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Diplomat honors long-standing Sino-Cuban ties

For Lisbet Quesada Luna, returning to China as the consul general of Cuba in Shanghai was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to both represent her country and explore her own Chinese roots. What’s more, Luna says she is thrilled to be back in China to mark the 55th anniversary of the opening of Sino-Cuban diplomatic ties.

“I felt like returning to my second homeland, though it was a bit difficult to regain my Chinese tongue in the first 15 days after three years away from the country,” says Luna, who is of Chinese ancestry.

Luna’s Cantonese great-great-grandfather reached Cuba by ship from China and settled down there eversince. As Luna grew up, China and Chinese culture were regular topics of conversation. Chinese dragons and kungfu were particular points of fascination for young Luna.

As a diplomat, she had the opportunity to study Chinese at Peking University from 2006 to 2008. She later worked as a second secretary in charge of consular and political affairs in the capital city between 2009 and 2012 before returning to Cuba.

“Many friends warned me that it was very difficult to learn Chinese, but I was determined,” says Luna.

“Of course, you can speak to many Chinese today in English without obstacles, yet your effort will be more appreciated by them when you use Chinese,” says Luna, “It is not only about the language, but the gesture. I hope that I can show my respect and sincerity to China on behalf of my country just like my predecessors have done over the past 55 years.”

Back in 1960, Cuba became the first country in the western hemisphere to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, a move which opened a new chapter in Sino-Latin American ties.

“Both China and Cuba were in a difficult time in the 1960s due to hostility from the Western world, yet Cuba still decided to offer help to China regardless of the cost,” says Luna, “Just like how former President Hu Jintao defined us: we are not only partners, but friends and brothers.”

The Sino-Cuban relationship has thus grown steadily over the decades, with the two countries keeping seeing eye-to-eye on several particular issues. For example, Cuba invariably supports the One-China policy, while the Chinese government and people continue to offer sustained support to the Cuban revolution.

“Our bilateral relations are an example of unity and cooperation among developing countries, based on equality, respect and mutual benefit, which hold with the ideals of socialism,” says Luna. “We can say that we have today solid bases for the development of bilateral relations, as well as the political intention to deepen them.”

Political ties between the two countries are undoubtedly solid, as Luna sees it. Yet both sides also acknowledge that additional work is needed in other fields, especially those related to economic and investment development.

Since 2005, China has been the second biggest commercial partner of Cuba. Cooperation in biotechnology among scientists from the two countries has also made noticeable progress. More than 3,000 Chinese students have graduated from Cuban universities. And many Cubans are studying Chinese at Confucius Institute in Havana, Cuba.

Shanghai in particular has also hosted a number of collaborations. These include a joint venture between Cuba’s Cubanacan Group and China’s Suntime Enterprise on the Gran Melia Shanghai Hotel (now Kempinski Grand Shanghai) in 2010. Additionally, 10 new bulk carriers for the Cuban merchant fleet were built at Shanghai shipyards and delivered to Cuba between 2010 to 2013.

A bilateral economic agenda that pledges the effective participation of China in the economic and social development of the Republic of Cuba from 2016-2020 has been confirmed by the two countries.

Nevertheless, Luna admits that despite of the 55-year history of Sino-Cuban relations, communications and exchanges between the people of the two countries are still quite limited. Currently, there are only about 30 Cubans living in Shanghai, while few Chinese visit Cuba for either work or leisure. According to her, a direct flight linking Beijing and Cuba is under negotiation at the moment, which could potentially shorten the flight to 19 hours.

“We expect more Chinese people to go to Cuba looking for opportunities,” says Luna. “Though far away geographically, we are closely related in culture.”

Chinese culture is one of the three most important sources for Cuba culture — the other two being African and Spanish — Luna explains.

“Most Chinese know about our leader Fidel Castro, and many of the young are familiar with the image of Che Guevara,” says Luna, “That is great ground for further cultural exchange between the two countries and thus the people.”

Recent years have seen a number of cultural exchange events between Shanghai and Cuba as well. For instance, in January 2014 a bronze statue of Cuban national hero Jose Marti was installed along Yan’an Road M., near Fumin Road. In February of the same year, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra directed by Cao Peng collaborated with the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba in a concert held in Havana.

Looking ahead, the Cuban Consulate General, together with the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, will launch a Chinese-language edition of “Warrior of Time,” a book on the life of Fidel Castro, on October 15, celebrating the bilateral relations and the Cuban Culture Day in Cuba.

“Successive generations of Chinese and Cuban leaders have contributed to consolidating the ties of traditional friendship between our two countries. That inheritance will be maintained for future generations of leaders in both countries,” says Luna

Q: How many years have you been a diplomat and where have you been posted?

A: I started my diplomat career about 10 years ago. My first posting was in Beijing and Shanghai is my second.

Q: What is the best and worst thing about being a diplomat?

A: The best thing about being a diplomat is that I am given the opportunity to represent my country and people everywhere I go. The worst part is that I have to be away from my family. Though I can bring my husband and daughter here, I still miss my parents a lot.

Q: As a diplomat, what is the one item you can’t do without?

A: My convictions.

Q: Motto for Life

A: Love the family.

Q: Favorite place in Shanghai

A: The view from the 30th floor of the Kempinski Hotel




 

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