By: Santiago Romero, MSc.
From Santiago de Cuba, a message of congratulations, peace and development was sent to the sister People’s Republic of China on its 75th birthday by more than 500 Tai Chi practitioners and instructors that belong to the Cuban School of Wushu Qigong, who were invited to the great celebration sponsored in this city by the Min Chih Tang Society.

As it is traditional in Santiago de Cuba, the associates of the Min Chih Tang Society, as well as their families and friends, marched with banners from the center of the Plaza de Marte to the subway plaza in the grounds of Dolores Park, and from there, they continued to Gallo y Toro, showing their martial arts skills.

In these celebrations for the three quarters of a century since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the dances of the Chinese Wooden Dragon returned to Santiago de Cuba, marking the current Lunar year, as well as other cultural and sports activities with timely exchanges on the traditions inherited from the cuisine of the Asian giant.

Juan Lang, president of the Min Chih Tang Society in Santiago de Cuba, was in charge of the key word address with the message of congratulations and gratitude to the People’s Republic of China, for the support and solidarity reaffirmed with the Cuban people. He referred to the actions and statements against the blockade, in addition to the contributions in the training of human resources, as the recent delegation of young Cuban scientists very well received in a direct exchange on oncological studies.

In closing, the statements of the Chinese ambassador, Hua Xin, were quoted, who stressed in a press conference in Havana, the central task of the Party in promoting “in an integral way the construction of a strong nation” and the revitalization together with the modern but with the banner of peace, development and Chinese cooperation.

In Santiago and in Cuba who does not remember Felix B. Caignet, from San Luis, scriptwriter of CMKC and creator of the legendary character Chang Li Po; Rebeca Hung, actress of the station and founder of the Conjunto Dramático de Oriente (Oriente Drama Group); the participation of Chinese immigrants in the struggles for independence and national liberation, in addition, the role of ascendants, for example, in seismology as the late Dr.C. Tomas Jacinto Chuy and the founder of the Contingent Heroes of Moncada, Rafael Mok Castro.

According to 2019 records, 10 732 000 281 countrymen lived outside China.

After 1959, a part of the Chinese community in Cuba emigrated and another, the majority, died in this country. Today, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those immigrants, most of who physically disappeared, barely have Asian features or a Chinese surname, for example, the main instructors of the Cuban School of Wushu Qigong, such as Niurka Cutiño, Juan Carlos Wilson, Jose Luis Pérez and Mariela Labrada. However, the most valuable is the defense and care of the cultural traditions, habits and the open rescue of Chinese martial arts and Tai Chi, which are promoted by the Cuban School of Wushu Qigong.