On Saturday Li Keqiang, the Chinese PM, paid a two-day visit to Cuba. The aim of the meeting was to strengthen bilateral relations on the line Havana-Beijing and deepen economic ties. It is one among many international trips made to Havana in the recent months by various world leaders. Only last week Shinzo Abe was the first Japanese Prime Minister to come to communist Cuba. The country has become significantly more attractive to foreign investment since the opening up to business-like relations with Washington in the past two years. China is, however, Cuba’s second largest trading partner and strives to keep that position.

Li Keqiang and Cuba’s President, Raul Castro, signed about 30 agreements on different issues concerning their economic cooperation. Among the most significant sectors were tourism and infrastructure, as well as many others (science, environment and energy to name a few). In exchange for Chinese investment in Cuban economy Castro promised to increase exports to China, specifically in the field of biotechnology and pharmaceutics. Cuba is a strategic partner for China not only due to trade, but also serves as Chinese base into Latin America, where Beijing would doubtlessly like to increase its presence.

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