65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cuba celebrated in Beijing

Photos by Alejandro Azcuy

By René Tamayo & Leticia Martínez, translated from the Spanish

BEIJING - "We are eternally grateful to the Chinese people, to the Communist Party of China, to the leadership of the Chinese government, for the support they have always given to Cuba," said the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, at the ceremony for the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cuba that was held on Thursday afternoon in the Chinese capital.

The commemoration, held at the headquarters of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), was also led by comrade Han Zheng, vice president of the People's Republic of China, and Yang Wanming, president of the CPAFFC.

Yang was awarded the Cuban Medal of Friendship by Presidential Decree for his efforts in strengthening the relationship between the Cuban and Chinese peoples. This honor, proposed by the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), was personally presented to him by the Cuban president.

In the speech celebrating the 65th anniversary of the formalization of bilateral relations, Vice President of the People's Republic of China Han Zheng reviewed the historical ties between the two countries and the support they have given each other over the years.

He welcomed Díaz-Canel's involvement in the main ceremony and military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which took place on September 3 in Tiananmen Square.

He emphasized the meeting this Thursday morning between Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and President, and his Cuban counterpart, as a demonstration, he noted, "of the ironclad friendship" that the two nations have developed.

He stated that the exchange facilitated reaching a new consensus to further strengthen the close relationship between the Chinese and Cuban parties, governments, and peoples.

During his address to the authorities, friends of Cuba, and Cuban staff working in the Asian giant, Diaz-Canel expressed his views on China's current patriotic festivities and the fortunate alignment with bilateral commemorations.

He recalled that the ties in the period from 1960 to today, "were conceived, developed, forged by the relationship between the leaders of the Cuban Revolution and the leaders of the Chinese Revolution, especially by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz and Chairman Mao Zedong, relations that have been continued by the new generations of Chinese and Cuban leaders."

He added that "our relationships have overcome the challenges posed by various historical periods."

"It is important to note," the Cuban president stressed, "that over the years we have developed various projects that benefit both parties, engaged in extensive discussions on global issues, and found common ground in the fundamental aspects of our relations, which has progressively strengthened our close relationship."

After an account of the ties of culture and blood that unite both peoples and that date back to the nineteenth century, he pointed out that today mutual relations have an additional significance.

"They are experiencing a crucial period of consolidation," he stated, thanks to the robust inter-party relations and the ongoing efforts to follow up on and implement the consensus we have been developing with President Xi in recent years.

He stated that they have adopted "new ideas on how cooperation between China and Cuba should function in the key areas critical to the economic and social development of our country."

"We have discovered," he continued, "ways of collaborating on shared interests that ensure mutual benefit and promote integration among the participants in these projects."

He remarked, "In fact, today we are considering the Chinese business community and institutions as a source of pride for Cuba, focusing on key areas essential for the economic and social development and prosperity that the Cuban people deserve after enduring 65 years of a brutal and genocidal economic, commercial, and financial blockade."

During the ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Cuba, which took place on Thursday afternoon in Beijing, a commemorative envelope was revealed, and a photographic exhibition highlighting key moments in the historical ties between the two peoples was inaugurated.

The event was attended by both young and veteran members of China's friendship groups with Cuba, as well as Cuban personnel working in the sister Asian nation.

The artistic portion of the celebration was led by the Dayu High School choir, which performed traditional Cuban songs. Additionally, a children's dance group consisting of Chinese and Cuban children presented a choreography inspired by the song "They Tell Me Cuba."

This work was translated and shared via a License CC-BY-NC