Chinese president Xi Jinping
Chinese president Xi Jinping Reuters

Chinese President Xi Jinping began a two-day visit to Cuba on Tuesday, seeking to turn China into a major investor on the island, as well as its second largest trading partner and primary source of credit. Xi, who arrived Monday night in Havana, will be received Tuesday afternoon by his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro, who then attend the signing of several agreements between the two communist countries.

Cuba is the last leg of a Latin American tour that previously took him to Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela. In the latter two countries Xi reached various economic agreements at a time when their economies are regarded with suspicion by the United States and Europe. Coinciding with his visit, fifty Chinese entrepreneurs explored business opportunities in Havana on Monday, attracted by the new advantages Cuba offers to foreign investment.

"We want the Chinese businessmen to invest in Cuba and Cuba to partner with companies in this major investment being made by the country," said Deborah Rivas, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Investment Foreign Trade of Cuba. Xi will end his Latin American tour in a week on Wednesday in Santiago de Cuba, 900 km southeast of Havana. Xi will be meeting with Cuban president Raul Castro today.

© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.