Premier
Li
Keqiang
met
with
Fidel
Castro,
the
90-year-old
leader
of
the
Cuban
Revolution,
onSunday
during
his
visit
to
the
island
nation
in
an
expression
of
respect
for
the
legendaryrevolutionary.
China
cherishes
the
traditional
friendship
with
Cuba,
Li
said,
adding
that
China
is
willing
toenhance
political
mutual
trust
with
Cuba,
expand
cooperation
and
boost
the
friendshipbetween
the
people
of
both
countries.
No
matter
how
international
relations
change,
the
China-Cuba
comradeship
and
brotherlyrelationship,
based
on
mutual
respect,
equal
treatment
and
common
interests,
will
never
bechanged,
Li
said.
Castro,
who
celebrated
his
birthday
in
August,
spoke
of
the
historical
links
between
the
twocountries
as
symbolized
by
the
participation
of
ethnic
Chinese
soldiers
in
Cuba's
wars
ofindependence
and
liberation,
according
to
the
Cuban
newspaper
Granma.
As
the
leader
of
the
revolution,
which
culminated
in
the
1959
overthrow
of
Fulgencio
Batista,Castro
has
maintained
close
ties
with
generations
of
Chinese
leaders.
President
Xi
Jinping
met
with
him
twice
in
the
three
years
from
2011
to
2014.
In
2011,
Xi,
then
vice-president,
visited
Castro's
house,
which
was
shaded
by
moringa
trees.In
July
2014,
during
his
state
visit
to
Cuba,
Xi
presented
Castro
with
some
seeds
of
moringaand
mulberry
trees.
Xi
promised
closer
cooperation
with
Cuba
to
develop
the
moringa
-
itsleaves
and
green
stems
can
be
fed
to
cattle,
helping
to
solve
the
problems
of
grain
supplyand
livestock
feed.
He
Shuangrong,
a
researcher
of
Latin
American
studies
at
the
Chinese
Academy
of
SocialSciences,
said
the
fact
that
Chinese
leaders
meet
Fidel
Castro
every
time
they
visit
Cubashows
the
strong
ties
between
the
two
countries.
"Both
countries
are
socialist
countries.
Their
ties
are
those
between
good
brothers
and
goodpartners,"
He
said,
adding
that
the
two
countries
not
only
have
growing
economic
relationsbut
also
lend
each
other
political
support.
Li,
the
first
Chinese
premier
to
visit
Cuba
in
more
than
50
years,
also
boarded
a
bus
onSunday
that
had
been
exported
by
Chinese
vehicle
maker
Yutong.
It
has
sold
over
5,000buses
to
Cuba.
Contact
the
writers
at
anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn
|
|
Premier Li Keqiang meets Cuba's former leader Fidel Castro in Havana, Cuba, on Sunday. (Alex Castro / Ap)
|
Premier Li Keqiang met with Fidel Castro, the 90-year-old leader of the Cuban Revolution, on Sunday during his visit to the island nation in an expression of respect for the legendary revolutionary.
China cherishes the traditional friendship with Cuba, Li said, adding that China is willing to enhance political mutual trust with Cuba, expand cooperation and boost the friendship between the people of both countries.
No matter how international relations change, the China-Cuba comradeship and brotherly relationship, based on mutual respect, equal treatment and common interests, will never be changed, Li said.
Castro, who celebrated his birthday in August, spoke of the historical links between the two countries as symbolized by the participation of ethnic Chinese soldiers in Cuba's wars of independence and liberation, according to the Cuban newspaper Granma.
As the leader of the revolution, which culminated in the 1959 overthrow of Fulgencio Batista, Castro has maintained close ties with generations of Chinese leaders.
President Xi Jinping met with him twice in the three years from 2011 to 2014.
In 2011, Xi, then vice-president, visited Castro's house, which was shaded by moringa trees. In July 2014, during his state visit to Cuba, Xi presented Castro with some seeds of moringa and mulberry trees. Xi promised closer cooperation with Cuba to develop the moringa - its leaves and green stems can be fed to cattle, helping to solve the problems of grain supply and livestock feed.
He Shuangrong, a researcher of Latin American studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the fact that Chinese leaders meet Fidel Castro every time they visit Cuba shows the strong ties between the two countries.
"Both countries are socialist countries. Their ties are those between good brothers and good partners," He said, adding that the two countries not only have growing economic relations but also lend each other political support.
Li, the first Chinese premier to visit Cuba in more than 50 years, also boarded a bus on Sunday that had been exported by Chinese vehicle maker Yutong. It has sold over 5,000 buses to Cuba.
Contact the writers at
anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn
