China: On the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cuba

---

General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with Raul Castro, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, and Cuban President Diaz-Canel to celebrate the two countries on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relation.

In his congratulatory message to Raul Castro, Xi Jinping pointed out that Cuba is the first Latin American country to establish diplomatic relations with New China. The sixtieth day of remembrance of the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Cuba relations have withstood the test of the changing international situation and have become stronger over time. China and Cuba continue to deepen political mutual trust, and pragmatic cooperation has yielded fruitful results. The two countries are in the same boat and help each other to fight the new crown pneumonia epidemic. The traditional friendship between the two countries has been sublimated. I cherish the special friendly relations between China and Cuba very much and would like to maintain close communication with you. Taking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity, I will promote China and Cuba to be good friends, good comrades and good brothers forever.

In his congratulatory message to Dias-Canel, Xi Jinping pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations 60 years ago, China and Cuba have mutually understood, trusted and supported each other and forged a profound friendship. In recent years, the friendly cooperation between China and Cuba has developed in an all-round and in-depth manner, actively building the “Belt and Road” initiative and bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples. China and Cuba worked together and helped each other in the fight against the new crown pneumonia epidemic, writing a new chapter in the friendship between the two peoples. I attach great importance to the development of China-Cuba relations, and I am willing to work with you to continuously deepen political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation in various fields, and better benefit the two countries and peoples.

Raúl Castro stated in his message that Cuba is the first Latin American country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China and has always maintained sincere friendship with its brotherly China, the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people. The Cuban side thanks China for its firm support and is convinced that the 60-year-old friendship between Cuba and China will be passed on from generation to generation and will last forever.

Diaz-Canel stated in the message that the close friendship between Cuba and China has been tested over the years, and both sides have always regarded each other's achievements in socialist construction as their own. In the face of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, both Cuba and China are committed to unity and cooperation, pool resources to save lives, and adopt scientific prevention and control measures to carry out international cooperation. We are willing to continue to consolidate the traditional friendship between Cuba and China and expand cooperation in various fields.

On the same day, Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council and Cuban Prime Minister Marrero also exchanged congratulatory messages. Li Keqiang said in the congratulatory message that since the establishment of diplomatic relations 60 years ago, bilateral relations have developed rapidly and cooperation in various fields has continued to advance, which not only benefits the two countries and their peoples, but also has a positive impact on the development of China-Latin America relations. China and Cuba share weal and woe and help each other in the fight against the new crown pneumonia epidemic, and the traditional friendship between the two countries has further deepened. China attaches great importance to the development of China-Cuba relations, and is willing to work with Cuba to continue to carry forward the tradition of friendship between the two countries, consolidate political mutual trust, continuously enrich the content and results of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, join hands in building the "Belt and Road", continue to promote anti-epidemic cooperation, and promote a new era China-Cuba relations in China have been moving steadily and far-reachingly, and are constantly reaching new levels. On behalf of the Cuban government and people, Marrero extended his warmest congratulations to China and said that Cuba is willing to continue to deepen bilateral economic and trade cooperation and raise it to a higher level.