Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s official visit to Cuba marked the first time a Chinese premier has visited Cuba since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1960. It carries on the tradition of high-level mutual visits between the two countries, building on the momentum fostered by Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the country in 2014.

Though located in different hemispheres, the countries have a relationship that is typical of the new model of international relations. Three conclusions can be drawn from this relationship that are essential to understanding China’s foreign policy:

First of all, China is not constrained by ideology in its foreign policy, but at the same time, it seizes opportunities to improve bilateral relations with other nations that have similar ideologies when it is appropriate. China abandoned ideologically motivated foreign policy long ago. It endeavors to develop healthy bilateral relationships with every possible country in the world on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

Instead of social and political systems, national interest is the fundamental basis for relations between countries. At the same time, China does not deliberately avoid ideological issues. Every country is defined by a certain ideology, and its foreign policy will somewhat reflect this.

China and Cuba both took the socialist road and chose rule by a Communist Party. That’s why Cuba was the first country on the American continent to establish diplomatic relations with China. Bilateral relations between the two later experienced twists and turns due to the Sino-Soviet Split, from which we learned that similarities in ideology are not sufficient to ensure good national relations.

Nevertheless, since China adheres to the principle of never interfering in the internal affairs of another country, bilateral relations withstood the test of time as well as the changing global landscape to develop into a bond of camaraderie and fraternity. China’s priority is to seek mutual benefit while, at the same time, it aims at exchanging experience on national governance, and building political mutual trust with other countries.

Second, an orientation toward cooperation with mutual benefit provides lasting momentum for China to implement its foreign policy. Despite huge differences in economic scale, the two countries remain close partners. In trade, China and Cuba are complementary. China is the source of Cuba’s essential products, and it did not take long for China to become its second-largest trading partner.

China not only exports finished products but also increases investment to boost the industrialization of Cuba. China helps Cuba to build infrastructure, improve production conditions and create more employment. During Li’s visit, the two sides agreed to further cooperate in key areas, like biotechnology, renewable energy, information and communication, appliance, agricultural equipment and infrastructure.

Historically, Cuba had been hamstrung by a single-product economy for a long time. Then, during the process when it tried to upgrade its economy, China seized the opportunity to connect the development strategies of the two countries, which was in accordance with Cuba’s development needs. Regardless of differences in size and national conditions, we can always find areas to cooperate and bring benefit to both sides. To seek cooperation opportunities based on mutual needs and respective advantages is conducive to building long-term steady bilateral relations.

Third, China never engages in  the zero-sum game in foreign policy. Some Westerners view China-Cuba relations from the angle of strategic competition. The Obama government has changed its policy toward Cuba, while Obama became the first US president to visit Cuba in this century. Shinzo Abe has become the first Japanese prime minister to visit Cuba. Some people in the West thus asserted that the two presidents’ overtures toward improving relations with Cuba will challenge China’s interests there. Therefore, China is now trying to consolidate its benefit in the country.

This interpretation of relations from the single angle of geopolitics is narrow-minded. In fact, China has always opposed the efforts of some Western countries to sanction and isolate Cuba, and it encourages the United States and Japan to open their doors to the island nation. China stresses mutual benefit while cooperating with Cuba. As its influence around the world grows, China will continue to develop relations with other countries on a mutually beneficial basis, which will not harm the interests of any third party.

 

Jia Xiudong is a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies.