Beijing/Madrid/The Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, expressed his opposition to “interference by foreign forces” in Cuba and promised to “continue to offer support and assistance within his capabilities” during a meeting with his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodríguez.
Wang received Rodríguez this Thursday in Beijing, to whom he conveyed Beijing’s willingness to “consolidate and expand” the “friendly” relations between both countries and to work with other “like-minded nations” to “enhance solidarity in the ‘global south’ and maintain peace at the regional and global level.”
“China firmly supports Cuba in protecting its national sovereignty and security, (…) and rejects any attempt to deprive the Cuban people of their right to survive and develop,” said the head of Chinese diplomacy, according to the statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
China and Cuba “have always maintained sincere mutual trust and have remained united”
According to Wang, in the face of the “complex and profound” changes in the Latin American situation and in the international environment in general, China and Cuba “have always maintained sincere mutual trust and have remained united.”
The Chinese minister also spoke of the Cuban “spirit” of “facing power and not being afraid of difficulties.”
For his part, according to the same statement, Rodríguez showed his gratitude for Chinese support in the face of blockades and sanctions, and for assistance to economic and local development, emphasizing that Beijing and Havana “are brothers and comrades.”
The Ministry revealed that Rodríguez also held a meeting with the number four in the Chinese political hierarchy, Wang Huning, who also promised Beijing’s “firm support” for Cuba’s “just fight” against “foreign interference.”
In his meeting with what is considered President Xi Jinping’s main ideologue, Rodríguez assured that Cuba wants to work with China to “protect equity and justice at the international level.”
Rodríguez’s visit to Beijing is part of a tour with which the Cuban Government seeks the support of its traditional allies, which also include Russia and Vietnam, in the face of the energy blockade imposed by the United States, which has increased pressure against the Island after capturing the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro.
China already publicly urged Washington last week to “immediately end the blockade, sanctions and any form of coercive measures.”
However, nothing has been officially said about the agenda with which the Cuban Foreign Minister traveled to Asia. In Hanoi, prior to Beijing, Rodríguez met with both his counterpart, Le Hoai Trung, and the general secretary of the Communist Party, To Lam, and the prime minister, Pham Minh Chinh. The visit took place a few days after the Congress in which the top leader of Vietnam was re-elected for the next five years.
China already publicly urged Washington last week to “immediately end the blockade, sanctions and any form of coercive measures against Cuba.”
At the end of January, Xi approved emergency aid to Cuba that includes financial assistance of $80 million and a donation of 60,000 tons of rice.
This is the largest donation of rice announced for Cuba, a country that in recent years has received multiple shipments of food to alleviate the great shortage of basic goods and high inflation.
In 2024, the Asian giant had already granted a donation of 100 million dollars to the Island.
