By Patrick Goodenough. CNS
News London Bureau Chief. April 13, 2001
London (CNSNews.com) - Chinese President Jiang Zemin is on a state visit to
Cuba, a country Beijing strongly identifies with as having its "just
struggle" challenged by "interference and threat" from outside.
Jiang's second visit to Havana comes just days before the United Nations
Commission on Human Rights in Geneva considers its verdict on the human rights
records of the two communist countries, along with several others.
Human rights advocates earlier this week denounced the policies of China and
Cuba, and predicted that social and political change would eventually come to
both.
Beijing's official Xinhua press agency quoted Jiang as saying upon landing
in Havana that he was delighted to visit Cuba as a guest of President Fidel
Castro.
Describing Cuba as "a shining pearl in the Caribbean Sea," the
Chinese leader commended its "unique culture and its heroic chapters in
maintaining state sovereignty and national independence," the agency
reported.
Jiang noted that Cuba was the first Latin American nation to establish
diplomatic ties with China, 41 years ago.
"The Chinese government attaches importance to its ties with Cuba,
supports the just struggle of Cuba in maintaining state sovereignty and national
independence and opposing against outside interference and threat," it
quoted Jiang as saying.
In a statement released ahead of the visit, Human Rights Watch denounced
China and Cuba for their human rights records.
Jiang and Castro had more in common than trade and economic interests, said
the organization's Americas Division director, Jose Miguel Vivanco.
"Their human rights policies and governing practices are bankrupt in
the eyes of the rest of the world," he said.
HRW accused China and Cuba of restricting freedom of expression and
detaining political opponents. They also shared a poor record when it came to
religious freedom.
Mike Jendrzejczyk of the organization's Asia Division said Jiang would find
in Castro a "sympathetic ear ... someone with a distressingly similar
agenda on human rights."
"It is time for both Cuba and China to take concrete steps to move into
the 21st century. Although Jiang and Castro may hug each other at the Havana
airport, their embrace can't ultimately prevent social and political change in
both societies," he said.
The UNCHR is next week due to consider resolutions condemning human rights
abuses in both China and Cuba. Both countries are voting members of the
53-member Commission.
Cuba is Jiang's second last stop on a Latin American tour that has continued
during the standoff over the U.S. Navy spy plane grounded at Hainan. Its crew
flew home Thursday.
Having already taken in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil, the tour ends
in Venezuela next Tuesday.
Chinese leader visiting Cuba
By Jim Burns. CNS Senior Staff Writer. April 12, 2001
(CNSNews.com) - Chinese Leader Jiang Zemin is in Havana Thursday to meet
with Cuban leader Fidel Castro as part of a continuing Latin American tour.
Cuban officials say Jiang's visit will "serve to further strengthen the
excellent relations" between the two countries.
The Chinese leader is expected to be in Cuba for four days, during which
time he will be meeting with Castro and other high-ranking Castro government
officials.
Officials say Jiang and Castro will review economic relations between their
countries and sign an agreement that will boost their economic ties.
Insiders report that China is eager to expand its political and commercial
influence in the Caribbean and Latin America, because most Latin American
countries are allies of Taiwan, which China views as a breakaway province.
China is Cuba's fourth largest trading partner. In the last two years, it
has provided millions of dollars in soft credits to a cash-needy Castro
government. The two communist nations doubled trade between 1993 and 1999.
Jiang's visit comes as his country and the U.S. ended an 11-day crisis
Wednesday, with a letter from the U.S. saying it was "very sorry" a
Chinese pilot died in a collision with its spy plane and "very sorry"
the U.S. plane landed in China without permission.
Radio Havana reported Tuesday that Jiang's invitation to visit Cuba came
during a recent visit to China by Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque.
Jiang's visit has also taken him to Chile, Argentina and Uruuguay. The
Chinese leader will conclude his trip in Venezuela early next week. | 