Cuban and Chinese National Assemblies to contribute to strengthening bilateral ties

HAVANA, Cuba, Nov 21 (ACN) The chairman of the international relations committee of the Cuban National Assembly of People's Power, Rolando Gonzalez Patricio, held on Monday night a fraternal and fruitful virtual exchange with the head of the foreign affairs committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China, Lou Qinjian.

In his speech, from the Baragua Hall of the National Capitol, Gonzalez Patricio first conveyed warm greetings from the President of the Cuban Parliament, Esteban Lazo Hernandez, to his Chinese counterpart Zhao Leji, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress; as well as his invitation to pay an official visit to our country.

He especially recalled the historic, fraternal and special ties that unite our parties, governments and peoples; forged centuries ago "when, in the origins of our nationality, sons of China were brought to Cuba in conditions of quasi-slavery and fused forever their blood and culture with that of the sons of this land".

He also stressed that, during 63 years of bilateral ties, the bonds that unite us have become an example of brotherhood, solidarity and cooperation between socialist countries, based on equality and mutual respect, the high level of dialogue, political trust, coincidence of purposes, agreement and reciprocal support in international forums, sympathy between both peoples and the exchange between our parties on the best experiences and lessons in the construction of Socialism, based on the specific realities of each country.

On the other hand, Rolando Gonzalez Patricio thanked the Chinese government for its unwavering support to the Cuban Revolution and its firm position against the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the U.S. government against Cuba for more than six decades. Likewise, he ratified Cuba's unequivocal position of support for the "one China" principle and condemnation of any meddling in the internal affairs of that sister nation.

Regarding inter-parliamentary ties, Cuban official praised their excellent state, shown by the exchange of different visits, the holding of bilateral videoconferences, mutual support and consultation of positions in international parliamentary events, as well as through exchanges with the respective diplomatic representations that have strengthened the ties between the two countries.

He pointed out the consensus reached between the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, and the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, during their visit to Beijing in November 2022 and renewed during the meeting they held in August 2023 within the framework of the BRICS Summit in South Africa, which evidences the excellent state of our political ties at present.

The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress of China reaffirmed his country's support to the Cuban people in their just struggle against the U.S. blockade and in their strategy of economic and social development.

He also considered that "exchanges between legislative bodies are an important part of the China-Cuba shared future community". In this way, he pointed out that, in recent years, both legislative bodies have maintained close coordination, playing an active role in the development of bilateral relations.

The Cuban side was also represented by Alberto Nuñez Betancourt, vice president of the International Relations Commission of the National Assembly, and Caridad Diego Bello, president of the Cuba-China Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Alberto Blanco Silva, Cuban ambassador to the Asian sister nation, as well as Jesus Rafael Mora Gonzalez and Yuniel Flores Aguiar, director and official of international relations of the Cuban Parliament, respectively, were also present.