China committed to helping Cuban economy

Cuba

Photo from Xinhua

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is on the second day of his visit to Cuba. On Sunday he’s hosting a reception for Chinese nationals living in Cuba.

CCTV America’s Michael Voss reports from Havana.

This visit by China’s Premier Li Keqiang comes at a time when President Raul Castro has launched Cuba’s first market reforms.

The large number of agreements signed on both Saturday and Sunday show that China is committed to helping the island’s economic development.

One key area for Cuba is its sophisticated biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector. On Sunday the two sides signed agreements for China to further finance research, manufacturing and marketing of Cuban products.

As well as the signing ceremonies and other official engagements there’s a lot of business being discussed on the fringes of Premier Li’s visit.

Cuba is a relatively untapped market which Chinese entrepreneurs hope could provide new opportunities before the Americans get here.

For the remainder of this visit Premier Li is being accompanied by Cuba’s first Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel. Raul Castro has flown to Colombia to attend Monday’s signing of the peace accords between the FARC rebel movement and the Colombian Government-something Cuba helped to facilitate.

Li’s final official engagement is a gala show at Havana’s Grand Theater. He returns to China on Monday having further strengthened what is already a comprehensive strategic partnership.