As a matter of fact, the leaders of the two countries need to make more courageous efforts to deal with the following issues:

First, when will the United States eliminate all the sanctions against Cuba? How will President Obama use his executive power if the Republican-controlled Congress refuses to repeal the six laws governing the sanctions against Cuba?

Second, what will Cuba do if it is asked by the United States to return the assets, US$7 billion in total, confiscated by the Cuban government soon after the 1959 revolution? Will Cuba ask the United States to compensate for the damages incurred upon the Cuban economy by 54 years of sanctions?

Third, will the United States return Guantánamo, the largest harbor on the south side of the Cuban island, to its owner?

Finally, will Cuba yield to the U.S. request that there should be more "political freedom" and more "respect for human rights"?

No matter how these issues will be dealt with, the impact and repercussions of the new U.S-Cuba ties will be significant and profound.

For Cuba, normalizing its relations with the United States simply means better integration with the global market and a more favorable external environment for its economy. It is a sad fact that, until now, thanks to U.S. sanctions, along with other factors, Cuba is the only country in the western hemisphere that requires its citizens to purchase many daily necessities with ration coupons.

Opening to the U.S. market will give impetus to the socialist country to implement economic adjustment and reforms in a more favorable way. As some observers predict, Cuba might be "the China in the Caribbean", meaning that it will build socialism with Cuban characteristics by continuing to follow a socialist path and take advantage of market forces at the same time.

What does the normalization of U.S.-Cuba relations mean for China? On the positive side, China will not need to take the "U.S. factor" into consideration when it develops relations with Cuba. Furthermore, Cuba's closer integration with the United States and therefore the world market will also provide the world, including China, with more business opportunities. On the negative side, however, China is likely to face increasing U.S. competition in the Cuban market. After all, the United States has a geographical advantage.

The first courageous step has been taken by the leaders of the United States and Cuba, and their political legacy will be remembered forever.

The writer is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.shenbo75.com/opinion/jiangshixue.htm

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