Cuba has received a third installment of 15,000 tons of rice from the Chinese government, bringing the total delivered so far to 60,000 tons as emergency food assistance in response to the island’s severe economic crisis.
The fourth and final shipment completing the donation—the largest China has sent to Cuba in recent years—is scheduled to arrive in September, according to statement released on social media by the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment (Mincex).
During the official handover ceremony at the Port of Havana on Thursday, Chinese Ambassador Hua Xin stated that the arrival of the shipment sends a message that China stands alongside Cuba. The diplomat reaffirmed Beijing’s intention to continue supporting the island and its population in opposition to foreign interference from the United States.
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Cuban Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Mincex, Oscar Pérez-Oliva, expressed profound gratitude during the event, describing relations between Cuba and China as indestructible. Pérez-Oliva emphasized that China is extending support while U.S. sanctions and energy pressures against the Caribbean nation intensify.
The food delivery follows additional aid efforts from Beijing, including the recent handover of 5,000 photovoltaic systems to support rural electrification amid chronic power shortages on the island. Chinese President Xi Jinping previously approved an assistance package for Cuba earlier this year that included 80 million dollars (€72.8 million) in financial aid alongside the 60,000 tons of rice, following a separate 100 million dollar (€91 million) donation in 2024.
Cuba’s economy continues to face a prolonged crisis, marked by a 15 percent contraction over the past five years alongside widespread shortages of food, medicine, and fuel.
