Díaz-Canel and Xi Jinping meet in Beijing

Photos by Alejandro Azcuy

.By René Tamayo & Leticia Martínez, translated from the Spanish

"Over the past few years, the China-Cuba Community of Shared Future has become deeper and more solid, and has become the hallmark of the iron friendship between the two parties and countries."

This sentiment was conveyed by Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President of the People's Republic of China, during his meeting with Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, along with his accompanying delegation in Beijing.

Xi asked Díaz-Canel to pass on his greetings "to comrade Raúl Castro," and noted the Cuban President's presence at "the events marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and in the World Antifascist War."

"Recently," he said to Díaz-Canel, "You organized an event for this great anniversary in Havana and personally led it, which clearly shows the special friendship between China and Cuba, for which I express my deep appreciation."

Xi Jinping also referred to this year's commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. "Both sides," he emphasized, "must seize this opportunity to take Sino-Cuban ties to new heights, for the greatest benefit of both peoples."

In response to his colleague's remarks, Díaz-Canel shared his great pleasure in meeting him once more, this time for the significant and historic commemorations in Beijing and across China on September 3. He also extended "cordial greetings from his old friend, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, a tireless advocate of our bilateral relations" to Xi.

Díaz-Canel commended the recent celebrations, noting them as a tribute to the "heroic actions of the Chinese people and their crucial role in the defeat of global fascism." These events also highlight the "historical significance of the Chinese journey and China's leadership on the international stage."

The Cuban President commended the fact that his visit coincided with the 65th anniversary celebration of the establishment of bilateral ties.

"Cuba," he said, "is honored to be the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean to have established relations with the People's Republic of China, as we are also honored to be the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean that is building a Community of Shared Future with the People's Republic of China."

"And it must be said," he stressed, "that these relations are, as you once said, ironclad. They are indestructible."

Diaz-Canel thanked Xi Jinping for his profound personal engagement and sensitivity regarding matters related to Cuba, as well as for spearheading the remarkable support that the sister Asian nation is offering to the island.

Following the conclusion of the meeting between the Cuban and Chinese presidents, along with their accompanying official delegations, it was announced that both parties signed eleven cooperation documents.

The agreements reached include those concerning the Belt and Road, political consultations, practical cooperation, cultural exchanges, and the Global Security Initiative.

Commitments were signed related to agricultural and territorial cooperation, artificial intelligence, traditional medicine, quality infrastructure, the press, cinema and television.

TRIBUTE TO THE HEROES OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE

The Cuban President began Thursday's activities in Beijing with the laying of a wreath at the Monument to the People's Heroes in Tiananmen Square.

Accompanied by his delegation during the official visit, the Head of State honored the site with a floral arrangement, mirroring the tribute placed thirty years ago by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz in front of the majestic monolith located in the heart of the historic square.

The commemorative ribbon, inscribed with the message in local language characters, "To the memory of the heroes of the Chinese people, in the name of the Cuban people, the Communist Party, and the Cuban government," featured the colors of the Cuban flag. It adorned an offering highlighted by yellow flowers, reminiscent of Fidel's in 1995.

In Chinese culture, yellow is largely seen as a positive, powerful, and sacred color. It symbolizes China's illustrious history, its philosophy centered on balance, its ties to the land, and legitimate authority. It is considered the most "royal" color in Chinese tradition.

FRIENDLY LAND

In the morning, Diaz-Canel also held a meeting with comrade Li Xi, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Secretary of the Central Commission of Disciplinary Inspection, who recently visited Cuba.

As in his previous activities in Beijing this Thursday, the Head of State was accompanied by Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, member of the Political Bureau and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Emilio Lozada García, member of the Central Committee and head of its Department of International Relations, and the Cuban ambassador to China, Alberto Blanco Silva.

Also participating were the ministers, Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, of Foreign Trade and Investment, Vicente de la O Levy, of Energy and Mines, Mayra Arevich Marín, of Communications, and the Minister President of the Central Bank of Cuba, Juana Lilia Delgado, among other members of the official delegation.

In the early afternoon, the Cuban president also met with comrade Han Zheng, vice president of the People's Republic of China.

Following the meeting, both figures toured the exhibition held to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations, at the headquarters of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC).

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