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Vice President Marino Murillo, the chief coordinator of Cuba’s economic reform process, is on a six-day work visit to China heavy on agriculture and food issues.
During his work visit Feb. 19-25, Murillo met with Deputy Prime Minister Hui Liangyu, and he was scheduled to hold talks with Agriculture Minister Han Changfu.
He also met with Li Changchun, a powerful member of the politburo. This fall, the Communist Party Party of China will hold a rank-and-file congress that will likely trigger the biggest personnel change in a generation.
“It’s possible that Murillo is seeking to make sure the Chinese turnover will not affect the level of cooperation between the two countries, particularly in regards to Cuba’s economic reforms,” said a foreign observer in Cuba.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said that, on the background of “deepening mutual trust,” the talks were focusing on the “construction of socialism.”
Cuba, according to official Website Cubadebate, is seeking more trade, scientific-technical cooperation, and agricultural investment. A bilateral commission recently agreed to boost agricultural cooperation and to lower trade barriers for mutual food exports.
The two countries are already cooperating in rice cultivation, aquiculture, cattle raising, pest control, plant disease control, and agricultural biotechnology.
China — Cuba’s second-largest trade partner — also plays a key role in financing the expansion of Cuban-Venezuelan petrochemical infrastructure projects on the island, as exploratory oil drilling in Cuban waters has begun this month.
Raúl Castro appointed Marino last year as coordinator of the economic policy commission in the Sixth Communist Party Congress, and he continues to oversee the economy ministry as vice president of government.
In late December Vice President Ricardo Cabrisas, who is in charge of Cuba’s strategic economic relationships, was in China for an unannounced visit.
Murillo, Castro
