Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
Havana, April 15. - The China Intercontinental Press Publishing House presented the book Stories of China and Cuba that reflects multiple perspectives on the friendly exchanges between both countries since the establishment of diplomatic relations 65 years ago.
Dong Baosheng, president of the publishing house, emphasized that this work tells genuine stories and valuable memories from those who have witnessed the development of bilateral ties.
In his opinion, these narratives reproduce the communication, cooperation and friendship between the two peoples and build a framework for dialogue that combines historical depth and international perspective.
The book's content includes contributions from diplomats, journalists, academics and international students.
According to Dong, many of these stories are revealed to the public for the first time and demonstrate the mutual knowledge and affinity between both peoples, who are described as good friends, good companions and good brothers.
Xu Yicong, former Chinese ambassador to Cuba and editor-in-chief of this book, shared some of his experiences in the largest of the Antilles, where he interacted on several occasions with historic leader Fidel Castro.
"I gained a deep understanding of Cuba, and it made me respect the country from that moment on," he said at the presentation.
Xu emphasized that this work reflects the sentiments of bilateral relations, while conveying knowledge about the island to the Asian giant's public.
Cuba's ambassador to China, Alberto Blanco, commented that beyond its current moment, this book will be read with gratitude by several generations of Cubans and Chinese.
With an entertaining and natural style, it contributes to preserving historical memory through testimonies filled with love, admiration, and mutual affection, he emphasized.
According to the ambassador, among the notable stories is that of Pang, who was present at the First Declaration of Havana (1960) and witnessed how Fidel Castro consulted a million people in the Revolution Square about the establishment of diplomatic relations with China.
Blanco noted that the authors of this book had the opportunity to interact with leaders who laid the foundations for a special relationship based on equality and mutual respect between a small and a large country, both socialist.
In this sense, the ambassador stressed that the ties between Cuba and China are not temporary nor do they respond to ephemeral conveniences, but rather have deep historical roots.
On September 2, 1960, in front of more than a million Cubans, Fidel Castro urged breaking relations with the government of Taiwan to establish diplomatic ties with Mao Zedong's People's Republic of China.
On September 28 of that year, Cuba became the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean to establish these ties with the People's Republic of China, which paved the way for relations between the Asian giant and the rest of the nations in the region. (Text and photo: PL)
