Chinese tourists will soon be visiting the island
• Ambassador Wang Zhiguan announces five star hotel to be built in the Hemingway Marina and another in Shanghai • Chinese-Cuban exports/imports rise to $450.7 billion in January –July, for a 38% growth

BY JOAQUIN ORAMAS

CHINA will very shortly be sending tourists to Cuba and for this, a five star hotel is to be built in Havana’s Hemingway Marina, announced Wan Zhiguan, People’s Republic of China ambassador to the island.

Bilateral relations between the countries have always been good, but over the last few years have further improved.

He highlighted the contribution that visits to Cuba by the then President Jiang Zaming; Li Peng, National Assembly Permanent Committee president; and Li Changchun, one of the nine members of the Chinese Communist Party’s Political Bureau have meant for strengthening links. In this respect, he also pointed out President Fidel Castro’s historic second official visit to China.

These events have placed bilateral relations at their highest ever, affirmed the diplomat, adding that the exchange of top level visits reflects the degree of relations between both countries.

He also mentioned that Chinese-Cuban cooperation is successful in all sectors, but particularly specified the economy, trade, science, technology and sports.

Regarding bilateral trade, ambassador Wan Zhiguan explained that this stands at between $400-500 million and involves exports of capital goods for the sugar industry, raw pharmaceutical materials, educational equipment etc. A similar volume of business has been predicted for next year, but there is the possibility of increased purchases in some sectors especially nickel, given the need for stainless steel for use in Chinese construction.

Future prospects for economic cooperation are good confirmed Zhiguan, adding that various Cuban medicines that could find a wide market have been registered in his country.

Whilst commenting on cooperation projects, he emphasized those concerning telecommunications, television and tourism.

The Chinese diplomat mentioned the recently signed agreement in which Cuba was declared a tourism destination for Chinese citizens, assuring that "Chinese tourists will soon be visiting the island."

With this in mind, a Chinese company and Cubanacán have signed a hotel building agreement. Zhiguan informed that a five star facility is to be built at the Hemingway Marina, Havana, plus another in Shanghai, where the foundations will begin being laid in October.

The agricultural cooperation project has meant successful, high yield, rice harvests. Many companies are interested in developing other agricultural cooperation projects with Cuba, including sweet potato cultivation and pig farming.

Likewise he stated that within the field of economic support, they were also involved in projects related to micro-power stations and duck breeding.

In the political and ideological field, Ambassador Wang Zhiguan explained the concept of triple representation that the Chinese Communist Party is currently studying and applying. He said that it was an approach that was reflected in the report by the Party’s general secretary and presented at the organization’s 16th Congress.

The fundamental theme of the text suggests that the Chinese Communist Party must boost the necessary requirements to develop advanced productive efforts, as well as the demands of a cultural vanguard and the central interests of the people. That means that as the leading political party, it must be always be in the frontline, leading the people in order to achieve these objectives.

The diplomat reiterated the fact that the above mentioned principles are developing the possibilities to enable productive efforts to assume their due role, with the aim of establishing conditions for a progressive culture. Equally, he stressed the fact that the Party must always fight for and work on behalf of the whole population.

Referring to the preparations his country is making for the 2008 Olympic Games, the ambassador thanked Cuba for supporting Beijing’s candidature to host the event and the island’s unconditional offer to make those games the best ever. He confirmed that Beijing and the rest of China are ready to make these aims become reality.

The ambassador affirmed that the Chinese economy continues to perform well in spite of the downturn in international economic growth and the SARS virus that spread through several provinces of the Asian giant.

He explained that in the first six months of this year, economic growth in the Asian nation was 8.2%, with an estimated annual rate of 8%— similar to 2002. In addition, from January to July imports and exports rose to $450.7 billion, representing a 38% increase.

Ambassador Zhiguan highlighted another important aspect of the Chinese economy: the introduction of investments and foreign capital worth some $623.4 billion. Direct investment by foreign companies represented $446.2 billion.