2016年CRI Experts value Premier Li Keqiang's upcoming visit to Cuba

 

Premier¹ Li Keqiang's upcoming tour marks the first official visit to Cuba by a Chinese premier, since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1960.

As market-oriented economy is expanding its hold, along with the newly-restored US-Cuba relationship, Cuba is now facing new challenges brought by the change of domestic and international environment.

Chu Yin, senior researcher with the Center for China and Globalization, a Beijing-based thinktank, says Premier Li's visit can help ease uncertainties² that exist in Cuba's economic development and offer new possibilities for bilateral³ cooperation.

"Cuba wants to deepen economic reforms without any risks of subverting⁴ the state political power. China's reform and opening-up policy is a perfect experience for Cuba to draw on. At the same time, though the US has lifted its sanctions, Cuba still has some concerns about attracting American capital. So the funds from China seem much safer. Cuba also aims to increase investment from China, in order to become a transfer station or support point for China's trade in Latin America and the Caribbean Region."

Currently, China is Cuba's second-largest trading partner. And Cuba is China's largest trading partner in the Caribbean region.

Official statistics show the bilateral trade volume between the two countries surpassed 2 billion US dollars in 2015, eyeing a 57% growth rate compared to figures for 2014.

"Cuba has long been playing a leading role in the Caribbean region. Its perfect geographic⁵ location, together with its good reputation in education and medical treatment, has made it an ideal place for business, tourism and high-tech⁶ development. China is undergoing supply-side structural⁷ reform, along with the appeal for the mass entrepreneurship and innovation. The two countries can explore new ways in capacity shifts and cooperation."

In recent years, Cuba has seen more presence of Chinese automotive, electronics and renewable energy companies. Huawei inked a deal with Cuban telecom company Etecsa last December, to sell its smartphones in the island nation.

But, Chen Fengying, a senior researcher from China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, also outlines the challenges that hinder these enterprises' expansion.

"The geographic distance between China and Cuba is quite far, which has increased the trade and transportation costs. Moreover, Cuba's market is not fully⁸ open as the reform is still in its initial stage. This means the approval systems and standards of market access may pose challenges for Chinese enterprises' exploration in the local market. Also, Cuba has a different corporate⁹ philosophy than us. They prefer a slow pace of life without working overtime¹⁰. So Chinese enterprises should get familiar with local laws, and integrate with local culture for long-term development."

However, she stresses there is a huge space for China-Cuba cooperation, as the two economies are highly complementary.

"Our products are very popular in Cuba, which is beneficial to local economic and social development. And Cuba has abundant natural and personnel resources. During Premier Li's visit, the two countries are expected to sign around 30 cooperative documents, covering various fields including finance, technology, quality control and environmental protection."

Professor Chen also indicates infrastructure¹¹, telecommunications, and logistics are also potential areas for bilateral cooperation.

1 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

2 uncertainties   

无把握( uncertainty的名词复数 )； 不确定； 变化不定； 无把握、不确定的事物

参考例句：

• One of the uncertainties of military duty is that you never know when you might suddenly get posted away. 任军职不稳定的因素之一是你永远不知道什么时候会突然被派往它处。
• Uncertainties affecting peace and development are on the rise. 影响和平与发展的不确定因素在增加。 来自汉英非文学 - 十六大报告

3 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

4 subverting   

v.颠覆，破坏（政治制度、宗教信仰等）( subvert的现在分词 )；使（某人）道德败坏或不忠

参考例句：

• This viewpoint sees the Multinational Corporation as capable of circumventing or subverting national objectives and policies. 这种观点认为，跨国公司能够遏制和破坏国家的目标和政策。 来自辞典例句
• By simply subverting an expectation, a novelist can undermine a prejudice. 藉由完全推翻期待，一个小说家可以逐渐破坏一种歧视。 来自互联网

5 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

6 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。

7 structural   

adj.构造的，组织的，建筑（用）的

参考例句：

• The storm caused no structural damage.风暴没有造成建筑结构方面的破坏。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities.北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。

8 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

9 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

10 overtime   

adj.超时的，加班的；adv.加班地

参考例句：

• They are working overtime to finish the work.为了完成任务他们正在加班加点地工作。
• He was paid for the overtime he worked.他领到了加班费。

11 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。