China affirms that Diaz-Canel's visit will strengthen bilateral ties

HAVANA, Cuba, Nov 21 (ACN) The Chinese foreign ministry said today that the upcoming visit of Cuban president Miguel Diaz-Canel, scheduled for November 24-26, will give a new push to the development of bilateral ties and will give renewed vigour to the traditional friendship and fraternal cooperation between the two nations.

According to Prensa Latina, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stressed at a press conference that her country's relationship with the Caribbean nation is one of good friends, good comrades and good brothers and sisters.

She stressed that Diaz-Canel will be the first dignitary from Latin America and the Caribbean to arrive in China after the 20th Communist Party Congress, which re-elected President Xi Jinping as its General Secretary in October.

Cuba, stressed Mao Ning, was the first country in its region to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China, and for 62 years the two states worked together in the construction of socialism with local characteristics and supported each other in matters of mutual interest, despite the changes in the international scenario.

The Chinese foreign ministry confirmed the visit of the Cuban president as part of an international tour of a high-level delegation of the island that began in Algeria last November 16.

The international tour, which responds to invitations from the leaders of those four countries, is aimed at addressing essential issues for Cuba, mainly related to the electro-energy sector.