A Chinese emergency aid program has delivered its first shipment of rice to Cuba, which is facing shortages as a result of the tightening US blockade on the island.
Under the new program, China will send 30,000 tons of rice. The first shipment was handed over on Monday 19 January.
At the handover ceremony – attended by Vice Prime Minister Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga, Minister of Domestic Trade Betsy Díaz Velázquez, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Déborah Rivas Saavedra and Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Hua Xin, among others – Ambassador Hua stated that “each grain of rice represents the unbreakable commitment of the Chinese people” to the island.
He continued:
We’re convinced that, with the joint effort of Cuba and China, no blockade will be able to turn off the light of hope, no difficulty will be able to block the path of progress.
Hua Xin added that China’s solidarity with Cuba “not only embodies the deep bonds of special friendship between both nations, but also demonstrates the unwavering commitment to remain united even in difficult times”.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez commented on X that the aid “is a sign of the close brotherhood and historical ties of friendship and solidarity that unite both nations”.
Daniel Lambert, manager of the Irish hip-hop group Kneecap, made an apposite comment on social media: “Due to crippling sanctions the USA has illegally placed on Cuba for 64 years its population struggles to now survive. Yesterday China sent 30,000 tons of rice to assist the Cuban people. As the US starves its neighbour a nation across the world tries to assist.”
We publish below reports from Xinhua Spanish and Prensa Latina. The Xinhua report has been translated by us.
China delivers first batch of emergency food aid to Cuba
HAVANA, Jan 19 (Xinhua) — On Monday, Cuba officially received the first batch of a donation of 30,000 tons of rice from China, sent as emergency aid to support efforts aimed at guaranteeing the food supply of the population of the Caribbean island.
At the handover ceremony, held at the Ministry of Domestic Trade in Havana, Cuban Deputy Prime Minister and Head of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Óscar Pérez-Oliva, thanked China for the donation, describing it as “a concrete expression of China’s exemplary, unconditional and selfless cooperation with Cuba”.
He stressed that Chinese cooperation is not limited to food aid, but also covers energy and other areas, as well as effective collaboration on increasing Cuba’s domestic rice production and its efforts towards food self-sufficiency.
“We deeply recognise and appreciate this help in complex times, where levels of aggression rise and the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the United States against the Cuban people intensifies in an unprecedented way”, said Pérez-Oliva.
The official described the donation as a concrete expression of the “construction of a community with a shared future” among our people.
For his part, China’s ambassador to Cuba, Hua Xin, stated that this assistance “embodies the deep ties of special friendship between both nations” and demonstrates the commitment to remain united in difficult times.
The diplomat recalled that aid for the areas affected by Hurricane Melissa at the end of last October in the east of the country is also advancing effectively.
Hua explained that last November six batches of food were sent by air, and that this month essential supplies such as solar lamps, roofing materials and mattresses arrived by ship at the port of Santiago de Cuba.
“We deeply understand that true friendship is revealed in moments of greatest need”, stressed the ambassador, who confirmed that China “has always been Cuba’s strong partner”, which is why “every grain of rice delivered today represents the unbreakable commitment unbreakable of the Chinese people” to the island.
“We are convinced that, with the joint efforts of both countries, no blockade will be able to extinguish the light of hope, nor will any difficulty be able to hinder the path forward”, Hua said.
The ambassador reiterated China’s willingness “to continue strengthening cooperation with Cuba, overcoming difficulties together”.
The donation is part of the Chinese government’s Emergency Food Assistance Project for Cuba and the distribution of that rice is designed to reach more than 1,400 communities throughout the Caribbean country, including those that are difficult to access.
Last September, China and Cuba celebrated the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Cuban government reaffirms gratitude to China for rice donation
January 20 (Prensa Latina) – Cuba’s Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez, thanked China today for the arrival of a first batch of rice as part of the aid from the Asian giant to the island.
The Cuban Foreign Minister said on the official social network x that we apreciated the Party, the government and the people of China for sending a first batch of a donation of 30,000 tons of cereal officially received yesterday.
The aid intended to complete the basic basket of Cubans “is a sign of the close brotherhood and historical ties of friendship and solidarity that unite both nations,” said Rodriguez on the social network.
During Monday’s reception, Cuban Vice Prime Minister Oscar Perez-Oliva said that two deliveries of 2,400 tons from the Mariel container terminal and the port of Santiago de Cuba are already on Cuban soil.
He also reported that two more shipments will arrive at the Island in the first half of this year, which will meet the total amount donated by the people and the Chinese authorities.
China’s ambassador to Cuba, Hua Xin, also attended the delivery where he recalled that it “not only embodies the deep bonds of special friendship between both nations, but also demonstrates the unwavering commitment to remain united even in difficult times”.
I love China and Cuba! Long live the friendship between China and Cuba! End the U.S. blockade of Cuba now!