Cuban PM in China on tourism mission to help ease post-pandemic slump at home
- Manuel Marrero Cruz tells Chinese tourism representatives in Beijing the US embargo on Cuba is dampening an already dire economy
- Xi Jinping welcomes the use of Chinese platforms such as international import expo to bring Cuban products into the Chinese market
While he said Cuba was “determined” in continuous development, Marrero asked for help, saying: “Every additional Chinese tourist to Cuba is an additional support to Cuba’s economic prosperity and improvement of livelihood.”
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The tourism forum was held a day after he met Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which Marrero raised one of his government’s priorities – to resume flights between Havana and Chinese cities.
“I firmly believe that we could possibly resume flights between China and Cuba next year as the frequent economic and trade exchanges, as well as the huge business potential from both sides, have raised the demand,” he said.
Marrero began his week-long trip to China on Tuesday, with an aim to boost exports and investment, as Cuba suffered an economic crisis with rising inflation and plunging primary production in sectors such as agriculture and mining.
