Havana, Nov 21.- The president of the International Relations Commission of the National Assembly of People's Power, Rolando González Patricio, held a fraternal and fruitful virtual exchange with the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Assembly of the Republic Popular China, Lou Qinjian.
In his speech, from the Baraguá room of the National Capitol, González Patricio first conveyed warm greetings from the President of the Cuban Parliament, Esteban Lazo Hernández, to his Chinese counterpart Zhao Leji, member of the Permanent Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of the Standing Committee of the XIV National People's Congress; as well as his invitation to make an official visit to our country.
He especially remembered the historical, fraternal and special ties that unite our parties, governments and people; forged centuries ago “when, at the origins of our nationality, children of China were brought to Cuba in conditions of quasi-slavery and forever fused their blood and culture with that of the children of this land.”
At the same time, he highlighted that in 1960, the young Cuban Revolution, led by its historical leader, Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, sovereignly recognized the People's Republic of China as the only and legitimate representative of the Chinese people.
“Cuba is honored to have been the first country in the Western Hemisphere to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, which meant an act of historical justice and also sovereignty in the face of American pressures. "This fact modestly contributed to the beginning and advancement of the ties of the sister People's Republic of China with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean," said the head of the parliamentary committee on International Relations.
In this sense, he stressed that, during 63 years of bilateral ties, the ties 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, coordination 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, starting from the specific realities of each country.
On the other hand, Rolando González Patricio thanked the Chinese Government for its invariable support for the Cuban Revolution and its firm stance against the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States Government against the Greater Antilles for more than six decades. Likewise, he ratified Cuba's unequivocal position of support for the principle of "one China" and condemnation of all interference in the internal affairs of that sister nation.
Regarding interparliamentary ties, he praised their excellent state, demonstrated through the exchange of various 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 allowed the ties between both countries to be strengthened.
“We advocate continuing to expand understanding and learning in order to contribute to the development of the special ties between our sister nations,” said the Cuban legislator. On this issue, he proposed working together with a view to signing an agreement to establish a mechanism for interparliamentary meetings in order to evaluate and promote relations in all areas of mutual interest.
An example of solidarity and cooperation between socialist countries
“The ties between China and Cuba have become an example of solidarity and cooperation between socialist countries, and of sincerity and mutual aid between developing nations,” said Lou Qinjian, at the beginning of his statements.
It signified 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 Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, during the visit held in Beijing in November 2022 and renewed during the meeting held in August 2023 within the framework of the BRICS Summit in South Africa, which demonstrate the excellent state in which our political ties are today.
We will continue to firmly support the Cuban people in their just fight against the US blockade and in their economic-social development strategy, said the President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress of China.
Furthermore, he considered that “exchanges between legislative bodies are an important part of the China-Cuba community of shared future.” In this way, he specified that, in recent years, both legislative bodies have maintained close coordination, playing an active role in the development of bilateral relations.
“China is willing to work together with Cuba to strengthen exchanges and cooperation, share experiences on the development of Socialism and raise collaboration between both parties and countries to a higher level,” he added in his speech.
Also participating on the Cuban side were deputies Alberto Núñez Betancourt, vice president of the International Relations Commission of the National Assembly, and Caridad Diego Bello, president of the Cuba-China Parliamentary Friendship Group. Also present were Alberto Blanco Silva, Ambassador of our country to the sister Asian nation; as well as Jesús Rafael Mora González and Yuniel Flores Aguiar, director and official of International Relations of the Cuban Parliament, respectively. (ACN) (Photos: Cuban Parliament website)
