A reception was held?in Beijing?Thursday to mark the
45th anniversary of the establishment of China-Cuba diplomatic
relations.
Cheng Siwei, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the
Chinese National People's Congress and president of the China-Latin
America Friendship Association, attended the reception.
Addressing the reception, jointly hosted by the Chinese People's
Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the
China-Latin America Friendship Association, Li Xiaolin, vice
president of the CPAFFC, said Cuba was the first among the Latin
American countries to forge diplomatic ties with China and the
people of the two countries have enjoyed traditional
friendship.
The mutual high-level visits have increased, acknowledged Li,
and bilateral cooperation in diverse fields has been further
expanded.
With the advancement of the relationship between the two
countries, their non-governmental exchanges have also been
strengthened, Li added.
She said CPAFFC has forged long-term friendly cooperative ties
with some of Cuba's friendly associations. Various exchanges
between the two peoples have greatly promoted mutual understanding
and friendship.
Cuban Minister of Government Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz said Cuba has
given unremitting and consistent support to the one-China policy
and China's just cause of national reunification for 45 years.
It is not only beneficial to the two peoples but also to the
people of the Latin American and Caribbean nations to step up and
expand the existing relations of mutually beneficial cooperation,
said Cabrisas.
(Xinhua News Agency September 30, 2005)