Obama plans trip to Cuba in March

World Today

U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife are heading to Havana at the end of March in yet another step in the normalization of relations between Cuba and the United States. CCTV’s Jessica Stone reports.

President Obama is expected to meet with Cuban President Raul Castro and the Cuban people as well as some Cuban dissidents.

The central goal is to demonstrate progress in normalization that will spur on more progress.

In his last year in office, Obama will become the first sitting president to visit Cuba in nearly 100 years. The last American president to visit Havana was Calvin Coolidge who arrived on a battleship.

This time, the White House says, Obama will visit, aiming for closer ties.

Just days ago, Cuba and the U.S. signed an agreement to resume daily flights.

Cuba is also allowing Cubans to start businesses, farm unused government land, and buy and sell houses at market rates, but deep restrictions still remain. American companies still want better access to Cuban workers, and easier regulations to set up offices.

Obama’s critics say his trip will reward a government still closed off to many American values.

Mindful of the U.S. presidential elections, the White House planned the visit in March, giving the relationship more time to make progress while Obama is in office.

White House officials say they’ll also bring members of Congress along to encourage them to lift the trade embargo with Cuba.

Cuba’s Foreign Trade Minister, said the White House can do more now, including allowing the dollar to be used in third-country purchases of Cuban goods.

U.S. officials have acknowledged that a better Cuba-U.S. relationship will lead to better relations with America’s neighbors.


Businessman Hugo Cancio discusses Cuba-U.S. relations

CCTV American interviewed Hugo Cancio about Cuba-U.S. relations. Cancio is the CIO and President of Cuba Business Development Group and founded Fuego Entertainment.