HAVANA (AP) 鈥� Cuba鈥檚 powerful Communist Party, or PCC, on Thursday featuring unprecedented free-market measures aimed at opening up the struggling island鈥檚 economy amid heightened pressure from the U.S.
The document, which has not yet been made public, will be submitted Thursday to Cuba鈥檚 National Assembly. It envisions expanding opportunities for private enterprise, greater autonomy for municipalities and state-owned companies and measures to attract additional foreign investment, including from Cubans abroad.
In recent days, residents in several Havana neighborhoods staged protests, banging pots and pans as spread across the island.
鈥淐uba resists heroically and creatively, but has endured for too long a barbaric, undeserved and unbearable punishment, to which is now added the threat of military aggression,鈥� said late Wednesday in the closing speech of the Communist Party session. The speech was published Thursday.
D铆az-Canel said the emergency plan and the policy document prepared by the Communist Party鈥檚 Central Committee were shaped by the experiences of China and Vietnam, two communist countries that have introduced market-oriented economic reforms while maintaining one-party rule.
The document will be submitted to the National Assembly for debate during a special session that, like the recent party meeting, was convened without prior public notice.
The announcement comes after months of increasing pressure from the U.S. and high-level talks between the two countries that have included Ra煤l Castro鈥檚 grandson, Ra煤l Guillermo Rodr铆guez Castro. The U.S. has levied numerous sanctions against Cuba and in connection with the 1996 downing of two civilian planes operated by Miami exiles.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said at a White House press briefing that the administration is watching the island’s actions to determine how to respond.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to see what they do. And obviously, if they do one thing, we鈥檙e going to do something,鈥� Vance said. “If they make smart decisions, we鈥檙e going to have a much better relationship with that island.鈥�
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Seung Min Kim in Washington contributed to this story.
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