Hua Xin, ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, reaffirmed in Guantánamo the close ties of friendship that unite the Asian giant and Cuba, nations that celebrate 65 years of diplomatic ties in 2025.
The distinguished visitor and his delegation were received at the headquarters of the Provincial People’s Power by Yoel Pérez García, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba in the territory, and the Governor Alis Azahares Torreblanca.
Hua Xin learned about a group of projects from Guantánamo’s business and opportunities portfolio, which were presented by Daysi Sarmiento Cala, Director of Foreign Trade, Foreign Investment, and International Cooperation of the provincial government.
Sarmiento Cala presented proposals for installing technologies for roasting and processing coffee with a high environmental impact; boasting rice production in saline soils; installation of new capacities for the production of coconut by-products, canned fruit and vegetables, and supporting the timber production chain.
The Chinese ambassador inquired about the characteristics of Guantanamo coffee grains, to which Cristina Velázquez Leyva, Director of Foreign Trade at the Asdrúbal López Company, the province’s leading export hub, explained about the cultivation of this coffee on plantations more than 600 meters above sea level and the renowned quality of the cherry trees.
She explained that this sector is present in eight municipalities in the province, and two of them produce organic coffee and environmental friendly. She mentioned that they have three registered brands: Alto Serra, Jagüey, and Segrá.
Velázquez Leyva explained that they are currently marketing the golden bean and seeking for technology to roast these beans.
Regarding Ambassador Hua Xin’s interest in the timber situation, Alvernis Veranes, the Agriculture Delegate, explained that despite the province’s great potential, with 400,000 hectares of virgin forests and a wide diversity of species, this resource is currently imported, as there is no logging or extraction capacity, nor the technology to process it to the necessary standards.
The Chinese diplomat expressed great interest in the development of photovoltaic parks, two of which are being built in the province, each with 21.8 megawatts peak (MWp), as part of a national government program. He learned about the province’s potential for generating clean energy, based on its significant wind, hydroelectric, biomass, and solar potential.
Hua Xin stated that all the projects presented require electricity to be implemented and referred to the support his country provides to Cuba in the recovery of the national electrical system, as part of which donations of parts and accessories for generator sets have been made.
This assistance, of which two deliveries have been made, will contribute to restoring the generating capacity of approximately 400 megawatts in more than 70 fuel and diesel power plants across the country, he indicated.
The Chinese ambassador to Cuba is scheduled to remain in Guantánamo until March 25, and will visit the coffee processing company, rice-growing areas, and cultural centers in the capital city, and the municipalities of Caimanera and Baracoa.
