Havana(Cuba)

Havana(Cuba)

[Overview] Havana is Cuba's capital city and the center of the country's political, economic, and cultural activities. Located in the west of Cuba and on the country's north coast, the city is about 180 kilometers south of the Florida Keys. It occupies a strategic position beside the Florida Strait, which is an important maritime passage between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. The city covers an area of 727 square kilometers and has a population of 2.13 million.

[Politics] Havana is one of the provinces of Cuba, with 15 districts under its jurisdiction. It is governed by the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and the Provincial Assembly of People's Power. The First Secretary of the Provincial Committee is appointed by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, with a term of five years, renewable once. Luis Antonio Torres Iríbar has held this position since June 2018. The Provincial Assembly is headed by the president elected by the Provincial Assembly for a term of five years. As the Provincial Assembly has the dual functions of administration and city council, the president exercises the power of both mayor and council chairman. Reinaldo García Zapata, currently President of the Provincial Assembly of Havana, was elected in August 2016.

[Economy] Havana is Cuba's industrial center. Sugar, tobacco, textiles, and oil refining are the city's major industries. The city's top exports are sugar, cigars, and tropical fruits. In recent years, Havana has seen fast development of genetic engineering and biotechnology, and industrial application on a certain scale. Havana Harbor has a long and narrow inlet, with a nearshore water depth of 12 meters. The harbor can accommodate giant ocean-going ships. Over 50 percent of the country's exports moved through this harbor. Jose Marti International Airport, Cuba's largest international airport and also the city's only airport, is located in southwestern Havana. 

[Culture and Education] Havana is composed of new and old towns. Old Havana, located on the peninsula on the west side of the Bay of Havana, boasts a fascinating mix of buildings which, about four centuries old, exhibit architectural styles ranging from neoclassical to Baroque. In 1982, Old Havana was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Located on the Caribbean coast, the New Town of Havana is the most modern urban area in Cuba. Havana has many cultural and entertainment facilities. The Tropicana Club in Havana, known as “Paradise under the Stars,” often stages shows featuring a tropical folk dance in Cuba, which has more than 50 years of history. The University of Havana, founded in 1728, is the oldest and largest university in Cuba and one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in Latin America.

[Relations with Beijing] On September 24, 2005, Beijing and Havana established a sister city relationship. In recent years, the two cities have engaged in extensive exchanges and cooperation in the fields of Party building, investment, trade, and culture.

Party Building: In 2014, the First Secretary of the Havana Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, Mercedes Lopez Acea, led a delegation to Beijing to attend the first theoretical seminar between the Communist Party of China and the Communist Party of Cuba, and gave a keynote speech at the seminar. The participants shared experience in Party building and strengthened inter-Party exchanges between the two cities.

Investment and Trade: In 2012, Beijing Enterprises Holdings Limited won the bid for Cuba's Bellomonte Resort project. In 2013, the company set up a representative office in Havana and invested in a one-MW photovoltaic power plant project, which was connected to the grid in the same year. 

Culture: In 2009, Beijing Language and Culture University opened a Confucius Institute at the University of Havana. In 2013, the Beijing Night Show and the Charming Beijing Photo Exhibition was held in Havana.

哈瓦那市(古巴)

【概况】哈瓦那市是古巴首都，全国政治、经济和文化中心。位于古巴西部北海岸，北距美国佛罗里达群岛约180公里，扼守大西洋通过佛罗里达海峡进出墨西哥湾的门户，战略地位十分重要。面积727平方公里，人口213万。

【政治】哈瓦那市是古巴省级行政区之一，下辖15个区。哈瓦那市领导机构由古共哈瓦那市委、哈瓦那市人民政权代表大会组成。古共哈瓦那市委第一书记由古共中央任命，每届任期五年，最多可连任一届。现任市委第一书记为路易斯·安东尼奥·托雷斯·伊里瓦尔，于2018年6月就职。哈瓦那市人民政权代表大会具有政府和议会双重职能，最高领导人为主席，任期5年，由市人民政权代表大会选举产生，同时行使议会主席和市长权力。现任主席加西亚·萨帕塔，于2016年8月当选。

【经济】哈瓦那市是全国工业中心，工业主要有制糖、烟草、纺织、炼油等，出口产品以糖、雪茄、热带水果等为主。近年来，遗传工程和生物技术发展迅速，已具备一定的产业规模。哈瓦那港狭长，近岸水深12米，可供远洋巨轮停泊，全国50%以上的出口贸易在此完成。古巴最大的国际机场——何塞·马蒂机场位于哈瓦那西南部，也是哈瓦那唯一的机场。

【文化教育】哈瓦那由新、旧两个城区组成。旧城位于哈瓦那湾西侧的半岛，400年历史的古老建筑展现了从新古典主义到巴洛克式多样化的建筑风格。1982年，哈瓦那旧城区被联合国教科文组织列为世界文化遗产。新城位于加勒比海岸，是古巴最为现代化的城区。哈瓦那有众多文化娱乐设施。有“星座下的天堂”之称的特洛皮卡纳露天剧场经常上演已有50多年历史的古巴特色艺术—热带土风舞。哈瓦那大学是古巴最古老、规模最大的大学，也是拉美地区历史最悠久的高等学府之一，创建于1728年。

【两市交往】2005年9月24日，北京市与哈瓦那市正式建立友好城市关系。近年来，两市在党建、经贸、文化等领域开展广泛的交流与合作。

党建领域：2014年，哈瓦那市委第一书记洛佩斯率团访京出席中国共产党和古巴共产党首届理论研讨会并做主旨发言，分享了党建经验，加强了两市党际交往。

经贸领域：2012年，北控集团参与古巴美丽山旅游地产项目投标，获得开发地块。2013年，北控集团在哈瓦那设立代表处，并投资建设1兆瓦光伏电站，同年并网发电。

文化领域：2009年，北京语言大学在哈瓦那大学开办孔子学院。2013年，我市在哈瓦那举办了《北京之夜》文艺演出和《魅力北京》图片展。

（Source: Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing Municipal Government）