Radio Havana Cuba, Monday, March 1, 1999 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The following items are taken from Radio Havana Cuba's news service for Monday, March 1, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH TOP CHINESE OFFICIALS 2.- PRESIDENT OF THE SPANISH AUTONOMOUS REGION CASTILLA AND LEON VISITS CUBA 3.- FIRST GROUP OF NICARAGUAN STUDENTS TO STUDY MEDICINE IN CUBA ARRIVE ON THE ISLAND 4.- CHINESE DEFENSE MINISTER WRAPS UP OFFICIAL VISIT TO CUBA 5.- CUBA'S TRABAJADORES NEWSPAPER CALLS ON UNION LEADERS TO CONTINUE FIGHTING CRIME IN THE WORK PLACE 6.- ENTRANCE GATE TO HAVANA'S CHINATOWN INAUGURATED 7.- INTERNATIONAL COFFEE CONFERENCE UNDERWAY IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA 8.- MEXICAN SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA MOVEMENT REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO STRUGGLE AGAINST WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE 9.- NEW FIVE-STAR "BEACHES VARADERO" HOTEL TO BE MANAGED BY JAMAICAN SANDALS HOTEL CHAIN CUBAN FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH TOP CHINESE OFFICIALS Beijing, March 1(RHC)-- Visiting Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina has met with his counterpart, Tang Jiasuan, and with Chinese President Jiang Zemin. President Zemin expressed his satisfaction over what he called "the rapid development of bilateral ties" in recent years, calling for further joint efforts to step up Cuba-China cooperation. Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiasuan asserted that Cuba and China should join forces to mutually support each other in rejecting attacks against the two nations' human rights records. China's top diplomat also said that Beijing is studying "with a great deal of interest" any contribution China can make to Cuba's medical program for Central America and the Caribbean. The Cuban foreign minister began an Asian tour last week that took him first to Japan. Following his visit to China, Robaina will begin the third leg of the tour in Vietnam. PRESIDENT OF THE SPANISH AUTONOMOUS REGION CASTILLA AND LEON VISITS CUBA Havana, March 1(RHC)-- The President of the Spanish autonomous region Castilla and Leon, Juan Jose Lucas Jimenez, arrived in Havana on Sunday at the invitation of the Cuban government. Upon his arrival at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport, the Spanish leader pointed to the already good relations between Cuba and Castilla and Leon, adding that he is interested in further increasing commercial and economic ties with the island. The delegation also includes some 20 business representatives from that Spanish region. During his visit to the island, the president of Castilla and Leon will meet with Cuban government officials and offer a lecture at the University of Havana, in addition to visiting places of interest. FIRST GROUP OF NICARAGUAN STUDENTS TO STUDY MEDICINE IN CUBA ARRIVE ON THE ISLAND Havana, March 1(RHC)-- Cuban First Vice President Raul Castro has welcomed the first group of Nicaraguan students that will study medicine on the island. Upon their arrival in Havana, Raul Castro told the Nicaraguan youth said that the historic ties between both countries "are above any political or ideological differences." The Cuban official had previously visited the campus of the Latin American Institute of Medicine where over 1000 students from Central America will carry out their studies on the island. Speaking with journalists upon their arrival, the Nicaraguan students said that it is a dream for them to be able to study medicine and expressed their gratitude to the Cuban government of allowing them to study on the island. It is estimated that over 5000 youths will graduate as doctors over the next ten years on the island. Once they graduate, the young people will return home and offer their services -- mainly in the rural areas of the Central American nations. Meanwhile, the first group of Guatemalan students has arrived on the island to study medicine, as part of a bilateral agreement signed last year between the governments of both countries. CHINESE DEFENSE MINISTER WRAPS UP OFFICIAL VISIT TO CUBA Havana, March 1(RHC)-- China's Defense Minister Chi Haotian has wrapped up his official visit to Cuba, meeting with Cuban President Fidel Castro. The Chinese official characterized his visit as "very positive for future ties between both countries." During his stay, the Chi Hoatian met with a number of Cuban government officials and visited Old Havana. CUBA'S TRABAJADORES NEWSPAPER CALLS ON UNION LEADERS TO CONTINUE FIGHTING CRIME IN THE WORK PLACE Havana, March 1(RHC)-- Union leaders from various provinces on the island have reported a reduction of job-related crime during the first few months of 1999, compared to the same period last year. According to Cuba's weekly Trabajadores newspaper -- published on Monday -- although it is still too early to measure the results of the battle against crime, there have apparently been positive effects, concrete actions and an increase in the consciousness of the people. Trabajadores adds that the previous increase in stealing at work places was related to the lack of control and the inability to take decisive action. The editorial in Monday's Trabajadores newspaper points out that the fight against crime on the job should not be the only objective of union activities which, ratified Trabajadores, should be measured by the quality of their political and ideological work. It adds that the best action plan should be aimed at strengthening the work environment -- placing emphasis on responsibility, collectivism, honor, merits, democratic methods, justice, solidarity and socialism. ENTRANCE GATE TO HAVANA'S CHINATOWN INAUGURATED Havana, March 1(RHC)-- As a symbol of friendly relations between Cuba and China, a decorative entrance gate, with the design of the Ming and Quing dynasty, was inaugurated in Havana's Chinatown on Sunday. China's ambassador to Cuba, Wang Cengjia, presided over the inaugural ceremony in which the Mayor of Havana, Conrado Martinez Corona, also attended. The entrance gate, which was a gift from China's Deputy Prime Minister Li Langquing, is nearly 19 meters wide and 13 meters high. It includes two columns and three roofs. The entrance gate to Havana's Chinatown is the largest two column construction of its kind outside China. INTERNATIONAL COFFEE CONFERENCE UNDERWAY IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA Santiago de Cuba, March 1(RHC)-- To celebrate the 250th anniversary of coffee cultivation in Cuba, a meeting with the participation of coffee companies from 15 countries will take place in the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba. Among the participants are representatives from Japan and France -- two of the main importers of Cuban coffee -- as well as Britain, Switzerland and New Zealand. An official from the International Coffee Organization, Colombian Julia Elena Serpa, praised Cuba's efforts in stimulating coffee production, including projects to protect the country's mountains and ecosystem. MEXICAN SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA MOVEMENT REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO STRUGGLE AGAINST WASHINGTON'S BLOCKADE Mexico City, March 1(RHC)-- The Mexican Solidarity with Cuba Movement reaffirmed its commitment to continue the fight against Washington's economic blockade against Cuba. The final declaration, drawn up at the end of the 4th Encounter in Solidarity with Cuba in Mexico City, called on all social and political organizations in the country to participate in a petition campaign to demand an end to the U.S. blockade against the island. Over 250 delegates from 14 Mexican states participated in the solidarity with Cuba meeting. NEW FIVE-STAR "BEACHES VARADERO" HOTEL TO BE MANAGED BY JAMAICAN SANDALS HOTEL CHAIN Havana, March 1(RHC)-- The new five-star "Beaches Varadero" Hotel opened for business at Varadero Beach resort on Monday. The new hotel has 360 rooms and is the first facility managed here in Cuba by the Jamaican Sandals hotel chain. The hotel's General Manager, Junior Gordon, said that he hopes "Beaches Varadero" will set the basis for a major presence of the Sandals group on the island and thanked all those who contributed to the construction of the hotel. Resident Manager Rene Garcia said that the hotel, which belongs to the Cubanacan Corporation, was constructed with 100 percent Cuban capital and has a highly-trained staff in order for that its guests receive the best service and attention on the island. [c] 1999, Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. 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