Cuban President Begins Trip to China, Laos, and Vietnam

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced on Saturday that he has embarked on an official tour of Asia, which will take him to China, Laos, and Vietnam, Cuba’s principal commercial partner on the continent.

The visit comes as Cuba, home to 10.9 million people, grapples with a severe economic crisis, while global trade continues to be affected by the sweeping tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

In a post on X, Díaz-Canel wrote: “This weekend we begin official visits to Vietnam, China, and Laos, sister nations with whom we share close ties and a history of cooperation and solidarity, tested by time and the greatest challenges.”

Vietnam has emerged as Cuba’s leading investor in Asia, with bilateral trade totalling approximately $340 million since formal commercial relations were established in 2020, according to Cuba’s Center for International Policy Research.

Vietnam has also advised Cuba on rice cultivation in the past. However, this marks the first instance in which a private Vietnamese company is directly managing farming operations on Cuban soil.

Rice is a staple of the Cuban diet, with an average consumption of 60 kilos (132 pounds) per person per year, making the crop crucial for local food security.

Díaz-Canel’s tour highlights the island nation’s efforts to strengthen commercial and strategic partnerships in Asia amidst economic difficulties, particularly in light of global trade disruptions and domestic shortages.