The special representative of the Chinese Government for Latin American Affairs, Qiu Xiaoqi, said on Wednesday that during this time, Cuba has been at the forefront of relations between Latin America and China.
“Our ties are a benchmark of solidarity and cooperation between developing countries,” he emphasized at an event at the Cuban Embassy in Beijing.
“Cuba and China have high mutual political confident, we share similar ideals and similar objectives and we firmly support each other on issues that are fundamental to our major interests,” he added.
Qiu added that both countries promote the interests of the developing countries, work together within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and maintain collaboration in various areas such as education, agriculture, biotechnology and renewable energy.
The Chinese official highlighted the high level of bilateral relations and, in particular, underscored the recent meetings between Presidents Xi Jinping and Miguel Díaz-Canel.
He recalled the recent visit to Cuba by Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China, to participate in the G77+China Summit.
Qiu referred to Chinese Vice President Han Zheng’s statements at the United Nations, where he condemned the United States blockade and external interference in Cuba’s internal affairs.
Cuban Ambassador Alberto Blanco stressed that the friendship between the two countries does not depend on temporary circumstances, but it results from deep historic ties.
The diplomat recalled that Chinese immigrants fought alongside Cubans for the country’s independence in the 19th century.
“For China, diplomatic relations with Cuba represented the beginning of official ties with Latin America and the Caribbean,” he noted.
Blanco added that Cuba was the first country in the Western Hemisphere to establish diplomatic relations with Mao Zedong’s People’s Republic of China, a decision made by the historic leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro.
We have invariably supported the One China principle and reject any interference in China’s internal affairs, the ambassador pointed out.
Blanco noted that the six decades since the first trip by Chinese students to Cuba to learn Spanish will be celebrated next year, and added that a few years ago another group of 3,000 Chinese citizens also studied the Spanish language in Cuba.
“There is no area in which we do not cooperate, we support each other at difficult times,” the senior diplomat stated.
“Both Cuba and China reject hegemonism, unilateralism, blockades, protectionism, policies of force, double standards, selectivity on human rights and we fight against terrorism,” he noted.
Beijing and Havana celebrate the establishment of diplomatic relations every September 28.
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