A fresh start for Cuba-China friendship

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Cuba-China relations.

"For Cuba, it is also a very important year: the starting point for expanding and consolidating the traditional friendship with China," said Oscar Martinez, deputy director of the International Relations Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba in an interview in Beijing.

China and Cuba established diplomatic ties in September 1960. On the 50th anniversary, at the request of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, Martinez started his fourth China visit. He noted great changes have taken place in Beijing, urban construction in particular, since he visited the city four years ago.

Martinez mentioned that Cuban people held a grand ceremony in Havana to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China on Sept. 30, 2009. Leaders such as the President of the Cuban Council of State Raul Castro attended the celebration and local TV also had a live broadcast of the grand parade of the Chinese Army and cheerful Chinese people in Beijing. People in Cuba gasped with admiration at the amazing development in China over the past six decades.

Martinez said "we are good brothers" to summarize the profound friendship between the leaders and peoples of Cuba and China. He added that Cuba was the first North American country to establish diplomatic ties with China and over the past decades, the two countries forged close partnerships not only in the spheres of politics, economy and trade, but also in culture, science and technology.

Martinez said Cuba hoped to further enhance cooperation with China in terms of economy, health care, culture, education and so on. For instance, as to health care, Cuba has doctors, technology as well as teachers of medical sciences. Additionally, Cuba used to send doctors to provide people in rural China with necessary medical services. The cooperation in this regard can be expanded in the future.

Finally, Martinez said that the past five decades during which Cuba enjoyed friendly ties with China also served as a fresh start for the further development of the Cuba-China friendship. The 50-year friendship will definitely be the solid foundation for further Cuba-China relations.

By People's Daily Online