China supports Cuba in safeguarding sovereignty

China said on Thursday that it firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding national sovereignty and security, opposes unwarranted interference by external forces, and rejects any attempt to deprive the Cuban people of their right to survival and development.

The pledge was made as China's top political adviser Wang Huning and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held two separate meetings with Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, the special envoy of the party and government of Cuba.

He is a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party and the foreign minister of Cuba.

During the talks, Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said Cuba has earned widespread respect from the international community with its spirit of defying power politics and fearing no difficulties.

Noting that the situation in Latin America is undergoing complex and profound changes, Wang stressed that upholding fairness and justice has always been a consistent principle of China's foreign policy.

China stands ready to continue to provide support and assistance to the best of its ability, to consolidate and advance friendly relations between China and the Caribbean nation, he said.

China is also willing to work with like-minded countries to make renewed efforts to enhance Global South solidarity and safeguard regional and world peace, he added.

Cuba was the first country in the Western Hemisphere to establish diplomatic relations with China and the first to build a community with a shared future with China.

China remains the second-largest trading partner in goods for Cuba, and Cuba is China's fifth-largest trading partner in the Caribbean region.

Rodriguez expressed gratitude for China's firm support for the Cuban people in opposing external blockades and sanctions, and for the assistance China provided to the country's economic and social development.

He said that relations between the two parties and the two countries have become a model of solidarity and cooperation between countries of different sizes.

Such relations are also a fine example of solidarity and cooperation between socialist countries, and between China and Latin American countries, he said.

Cuba stands ready to work with China to strengthen cooperation across various fields, and promote the comprehensive and in-depth development of bilateral relations, he added.

On Wednesday, Rodriguez met with Liu Haixing, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, during which they exchanged in-depth views on strengthening interparty exchanges, and promoting the building of a China-Cuba community with a shared future.

Liu noted that although the two sides are located on different continents, the hearts have always been closely connected.

Rodriguez's visit came as the United States ramped up pressure on Cuba by trying to cut off oil deliveries there. Last week, Washington threatened tariffs on nations that export oil to the country.

zhoujin@chinadaily.com.cn