Spotlight: Cubans cautiously optimistic about upcoming Obama visit

As Cuba's capital Havana gets a facelift in anticipation of U.S. President Barack Obama's historic visit to the island next week, ordinary Cubans are wondering how the trip will affect them.

This is the first visit by a U.S. president in nearly 90 years, which could mark the beginning of a new and potentially more prosperous era for Cuba.

But given the two countries' history of conflict and past longstanding U.S. dominance over Latin America in general, and over Cuba in particular, Cubans view the visit as a thaw in relations but with cautious optimism.

"Obama's visit can help open the door to new cooperation agreements between the two governments and once for all end the 50 years of hostility from Washington toward our country," Raul Pelallo, who works at a local factory, told Xinhua.

Relations between the two nations soured after the 1959 Cuban Revolution and the subsequent nationalization of private companies by the government, many of which were owned by Americans.

Washington then imposed a trade embargo on Cuba, which has been intensified over the past half century, in an attempt to sow discontent in the Caribbean country and topple its government.

In December 2014, Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro announced their agreement to restore diplomatic ties.

In justifying his decision to an astounded U.S. and international audience, Obama acknowledged the "failed policy" toward Cuba only served to entrench the government and to cast Washington as a global bully, tirelessly tormenting smaller nations because it could.

The decision was universally welcomed by Cuba and the international community, but does not in itself go far enough, as Cuban officials have consistently pointed out.

"Most of Cubans believe that on this trip, Obama should commit to lifting the embargo before he finishes his term. He has the moral obligation to do so," said Vladimir Ferrer, a college professor.

But Obama says the decision is up to Congress, even though he hopes his visit could speed up diplomatic reconciliation to a large extent, so the relations between the two countries can continue to be normalized even after he leaves office next year, whether his successor is a Democrat or a Republican.

For some Cubans, Washington's new policy of engagement does not signal a change big enough to counteract the fact that the United States sees the socialist system of Cuba as a threat to its way of life.

"We will welcome President Obama with respect. But we should not be too optimistic about U.S. investments in our country, because if that happens we will once again be dominated by them," said Alfredo Aroche, a retired military officer.

Obama will visit Cuba from Sunday to Tuesday, during which he will visit the historic center of the capital and the Havana Cathedral, attend a high-level business meeting on potential cooperation between the two countries, and make an address at the Alicia Alonso Grand Theater of Havana. Endi