The Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) of the United States that accused Beijing of using facilities in Cuba for intelligence activities against Washington and its neighbors.
Spokeswoman Mao Ning described the claims as “pure fantasies,” and quoted previous statements by Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío.
“Cooperation between China and Cuba is legitimate, transparent and is not directed against third parties,” Mao said.
She accused Washington of maintaining a hostile policy against Cuba for decades. “The United States has illegally occupied Guantanamo as a military base, imposed a blockade on Cuba for more than 60 years and caused suffering to the Cuban people,” she stated.
Beijing again urged the US Government to lift the economic blockade, remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT) list and cease the actions that hinder the economic and the Caribbean island’s social development.
During the week, leaders and representatives of various countries and international institutions met here to strengthen cooperation and address issues of global interest.
President Xi Jinping held key meetings in Beijing, including one with Dmitri Medvedev, president of the United Russia party, in commemoration of 75 years of bilateral relations.
Xi highlighted the two countries’ commitment to mutual respect and beneficial cooperation, and advocated greater understanding in multilateral platforms such as the United Nations and the BRICS.
In another meeting, the Chinese president received leaders of international economic organizations during the “1+10” Summit in Beijing, reaffirming China’s vision of global interdependence.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a joint conference with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, expressed concern about the situation in Syria and called for respect for the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The head of Chinese diplomacy called on the international community to support a Syrian-led political process and remove unilateral sanctions that aggravate the humanitarian crisis.
In another area of relations with the United States, Spokeswoman Mao Ning announced visa restrictions for US officials in response to similar measures taken by Washington related to Hong Kong.
Mao reiterated that the affairs of that special administrative region are exclusively internal to China and demanded respect for national sovereignty.
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