Ironclad friendship with Cuba stressed

President Xi Jinping said on Friday while meeting with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel that China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty, and opposing foreign interference and blockade.

He also expressed willingness to further consolidate the ironclad friendship with Cuba to set bilateral relations as an example of unity and cooperation among socialist countries, as well as sincere mutual assistance among developing nations.

Noting that he has met with Diaz-Canel multiple times in recent years, Xi said that they have led bilateral ties to a new stage with deeper political mutual trust, closer strategic coordination and stronger public support.

As this year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties, Xi said that China is ready to work with Cuba to build a closer China-Cuba community with a shared future. He also noted that China firmly supports Cuba in defending its national sovereignty and advancing economic and social development.

The two countries, both as important members of the Global South, should enhance coordination and cooperation within frameworks such as BRICS and the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum, oppose power politics and unilateral bullying and safeguard international fairness and justice, he said.

Diaz-Canel said that Cuba would like to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with China and deepen people-to-people exchanges. He said that Cuba firmly abides by the one-China principle, and stands ready to work with China to oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and safeguard the common interests of the international community.