From November 19 to 25, Dr. Qu Jian, Vice President of CDI, and Dr. Liu Rongxin, General Director of the Department of Regional Development Planning at CDI, gave training to officials at Mariel Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Cuba. The training program included SEZ-related development course, laws and regulations, regional planning, investment and financing, and operation management. Mariel SEZ, the first one in Cuba, was launched in 2013. Although it was well positioned as a critical hub in the Caribbean region, it was faced with difficulties of investment attraction and operation management.