Thaw in US-Cuba ties offers broad lessons

Burying 50 years of antagonism, the US and Cuba have decided to restore full diplomatic relations. The announcement was made by US President Barack Obama on Wednesday, who admitted that 50 years of isolation against Cuba "has not worked."

His new agenda toward Havana includes negotiations to establish diplomatic ties and to increase US-Cuba commercial and tourist exchanges. US-Cuba rapprochement, even before Obama's official announcement, had already taken effect through an exchange of imprisoned special agents.

Cuba, an island nation with a population of only 11.16 million people, has endured decades of sanctions by the US.

Throughout, Cuba bided its time and stuck to its fundamental system. Its forbearance has finally paid off.

Cuba was a loyal follower of the Soviet Union, whose dissolution exposed Havana to a great deal of political and economic pressures from the West, especially the US. Given the fact that Washington has successfully toppled several Latin American governments, many people had speculated that Fidel Castro and his brother Raul's leadership would be subverted sooner or later.

The reverse in US Cuba policy is indicative of its shrinking strength. It also demonstrates that with unity, even a small country can boast strong tenacity.

Latin America is in the US backyard, and it can impose any sanctions it wants on Cuba. The failure of the US sanctions on Cuba will have an impact on other sanctions Washington is still exercising. How much effect will sanctions over North Korea, Iran and Russia have if the US cannot deal with Cuba in this way?

China's persistence in socialism and its success in reform and opening-up have apparently inspired Cuba. Drawing on China's experience, Havana has taken proactive measures to reform its domestic and foreign policies, laying the groundwork for the restoration of US-Cuba relations. Cuba is trying to make a soft landing in seeking a proper model of national development.

There are some voices on the Chinese Internet, portraying the US-Cuba rapprochement as a "failure of China." This bigoted group has misguided values, and has lost the basic capability to understand the world.

China's path will be echoed profoundly as Cuba deepens its reform and opening-up. Such echoes will be heard from a wider range, such as the rest of the developing world. Most countries which are at a transformative stage are looking up to China's experiences.

This pluralistic world will not be dominated by one single model of development. The US-Cuba rapprochement should serve as example to drag many outdated minds away from their Cold War mentality.