After ruling the island nation of Cuba for nearly half a century and surviving a rumored 600 assassination attempts, Fidel Castro has died at the age of 90.
The communist revolutionary, in a strange twist of irony, passed away on one of the world’s most capitalist-driven days – Black Friday, which fell on November 25 this year.
While those in Cuba mourned and Miami Cubans celebrated and Donald Trump tweeted: “Fidel Castro is dead!”, Chinese President Xi Jinping eulogized the late leader as a “great person of our era” and stating that he made “immortal historical achievements for the development of world socialism.”
The kind words from President Xi come as no surprise, considering the two nations share a long ideological history dating back to the revolutionary escapades of both Mao Zedong and Castro.
Beijing and Havana began diplomatic relations in 1960. However, due largely to differing stances throughout much of the Cold War – with Castro’s Cuba aligning itself with the Soviets – there was very limited interaction until 1989, in the twilight years of the USSR.
In fact relations seem to have been decidedly frosty until then, with Castro telling American journalist Barbara Walters in May 1977, "I believe that Mao destroyed with his feet what he did with his head for many years. I'm convinced of that. And some day the Chinese people, the Communist Party of China will have to recognize that."
Castro listed the creation of a cult personality and abuse of great power as Mao's big mistakes, claiming that he himself "also acquired that power, but I never abused it, nor did I retain it in my hands."
The Cuban leader would make his first and only state visit to the PRC in 1995. The trip lasted nine days and saw the communist revolutionary visit Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou.
During his stay in the PRC, Castro made a special stop at the Great Wall (as you do) and Beijing’s renowned Quanjude Duck Restaurant.
The China Daily quotes China's former ambassador to Cuba, Xu Yicong, as stating that Castro had an affection for China’s sweet osmanthus flavored wine.
In more recent years, Xi’s China and Castro’s Cuba have shared less in common from an ideological stand point – instead forging bilateral economic relations through Chinese telecom ventures and joint development of seaside resorts.
According to Chinese state media, trade between the two nations stands at about USD2.2 billion per year and China remains the island nation’s second largest trading partner and top creditor.
In today’s Cuba, the streets are plied by ‘Yutong’ brand busses from China, Chinese-made refrigerators are commonplace and Unionpay debit cards are accepted at Cuban ATMs, according to a Washington Post report.
You can even catch a direct flight from Beijing to Havana – a route launched to serve the demands of beach-, cigar- and mojito-loving Chinese tourists.
In July 2014, President Xi paid a visit to Cuba to see “his old friend Fidel Castro” just month’s before the elder statesman was awarded China's Confucius Peace Prize – the PRC’s oft-mocked answer the the Nobel Peace Prize. According to Chinese media, Castro was awarded the prize because of his non-violent approach to international disputes – particularly in dealing with the United States – and his commitment to a global purging of nuclear weapons after his 2008 retirement.
Castro’s most recent visit from a Chinese official happened back in September when Premier Li Keqiang arrived in Havana to offer support for the modernization of Cuba as a “comrade and brother.” During the visit Castro praised China on its growth and requested help in developing Cuba’s agricultural technology.
Premier Li signed 20 agreements with President Raul Castro, Fidel’s younger brother, aimed at strengthening the two nation’s already notable relationship. Li’s visit was the first-ever by a Chinese premier.
While Chairman Mao and Castro never had the pleasure of meeting, we are sure wherever they are now they’re sharing a ganbei over a shot of baijiu – or possibly a tall glass of Havana Club.
[Images via Channel NewsAsia, China Daily, Fox News, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China]
0 User Comments