China Urges US To Lift Trade Blockade Of Cuba - Foreign Ministry

China appeals on the United States to lift the trade blockade against Cuba, Spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Lu Kang said on Thursday

BEIJING (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th April, 2019) China appeals on the United States to lift the trade blockade against Cuba, Spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Lu Kang said on Thursday.

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that starting from May 2, the United States would allow the US citizens, especially of Cuban origin, to sue those benefiting from their properties seized by Cuba after the revolution in 1959. According to US National Security Adviser John Bolton, these measures will put an end to "the disastrous Obama-era policies, and finally end the glamorization of socialism and communism." This decision came after the United States stepped up pressure on Cuba over its support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

"The United States has been maintaining the blockade against Cuba for a long time, which has seriously damaged the socio-economic development of Cuba. By means of adopted resolutions, the UN Security Council has repeatedly demanded the United States put an end to this erroneous practice. We urge the United States to lift the blockade of Cuba as soon as possible," Lu said during his briefing.

He also stressed that not only China, but also the whole international community was waiting for this move which corresponded with the interests of both Washington and Havana, as well as with development interests of the region.

China is one of the largest Cuban trade partners. The two communist states have reached a high level of cooperation in different fields such as trade, defense and investment.

The United States introduced a blockade against Cuba in 1960 after socialist leader Fidel Castro came to power following the revolution on the island. Washington severed diplomatic relations with Havana in 1961, and since then the blockade got worse until then-US President Bill Clinton decided to weaken it in 2000. Later in 2009, another US president, Barack Obama, began a campaign aimed at revising and improving relations with Cuba and decided to soften sanctions against Havana. In 2015, the two states re-established diplomatic relations.