Alberto Blanco Silva, Cuban Ambassador to China Photo: Courtesy of the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in China

Cuban Ambassador to China Alberto Blanco Silva told the Global Times in an exclusive interview on Saturday that in the new five-year period, Cuba will expand and deepen cooperation with China. China is an open, inclusive, and united country with a sincere desire to share the opportunities offered by its development.

At the outset of the new five-year period of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), Cuba reaffirms its commitment to continue expanding and deepening cooperation with China, with special emphasis on the priority areas defined by both governments under the important consensus reached by national leaders, namely energy and mining, food production, communication and digital technologies, biotechnology and health, cultural exchange and tourism, said Blanco. 

"Work is being done on the joint development of innovative projects in biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry, as well as on the exchange of experiences and knowledge in the area of health. In the tourism sector, we intend to increase the flow of Chinese visitors to Cuba, strengthening cultural ties and exchange between our peoples, taking advantage of existing air links between the two countries," Blanco added.

To facilitate the participation of Chinese businessmen in these sectors, the new incentives approved by the Cuban government for the promotion and attraction of businesses with Chinese capital in the country are of special relevance. 

All these efforts are part of the major global initiatives proposed by China, in particular the Belt and Road Initiative and Global Development Initiative, of which we are active members and which aim to build a community with a shared future declared by our top leaders - the first such bilateral initiative between China and a Latin American country, he said. 

Cuba and China share a long-term strategic vision, based on mutual trust, respect, solidarity and cooperation. "We are convinced that deepening these ties not only benefits the economic and social development of our countries, but also contributes to the stability and well-being of our regions. Our goal is to continue building together a shared future, strengthening the bonds of friendship that have historically united our peoples," the ambassador said. 

From his point of view, the successes achieved in the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25) and the country's preparations for the implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan starting this year confirm the unity and effective governance capacity of the Communist Party of China, as well as its ability to firmly and confidently lead the fulfillment of the second centenary goal.

China's economic, scientific and technological strength and comprehensive national power have reached a high level and will continue to demonstrate strong potential and vitality in the next five years, Blanco said. 

China has become a benchmark showing that it is possible, under the conditions of a socialist, sovereign and independent country and under the leadership of a Communist Party, to ensure stable economic growth and sustainable, high-quality development while maintaining social stability and national unity in a multi-ethnic country, always placing the improvement of the people's well-being at the center of the policies and concerns of the Party, the government and the state, said the ambassador. 

"For more than 65 years, the uninterrupted ties between Cuba and China have stood the test of time and geographical distance, reaching an exceptional degree of maturity. Today, in a new era for our bilateral relations, we are taking a momentous qualitative step forward," said Blanco. 

"To this end, a new and dynamic course has been set for our economic relations. Beyond promoting trade and cooperation, we are focusing on the development of joint business projects in priority areas of common interest such as food production, including the sugar agro-industry; the energy sector, with an emphasis on renewable energy sources; IT and digital economy; biotechnology and health; as well as tourism."