On the afternoon of August 23, 2023 local time, President Xi Jinping met with President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg.
Xi Jinping noted that Comrade President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez paid a successful state visit to China last November, during which they reached broad common understandings on further deepening China-Cuba relations in the new era and agreed to work together to build a China-Cuba community with a shared future. With the joint efforts of both sides, these common understandings are being well implemented. China is ready to continue to deepen political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, and keep close strategic coordination with Cuba, and constantly work for new progress in the special friendly relations between the two parties and two countries. China highly appreciates Cuba’s consistent and firm support to China on issues concerning China's core interests, and will continue to firmly support Cuba in safeguarding national sovereignty and opposing external interference and blockade, and provide support for Cuba's economic and social development to the best of its ability.
Xi Jinping emphasized that the Group of 77 (G77) and China is an important platform for cooperation among developing countries. Cuba, as this year's chairman of the Group of 77 and China, has made positive contributions to strengthening the solidarity of developing countries. China attaches great importance to and supports Cuba in successfully hosting the G77 plus China Summit next month, and stands ready to work with Cuba and other G77 members to better safeguard the common interests and development rights of developing countries.
Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez said that he paid a successful state visit to China last November, and both sides are earnestly implementing the important common understandings reached by the two presidents. Currently, Cuba-China relations are at a historical high. The Cuban people greatly admire President Xi Jinping and are sincerely grateful for the understanding and valuable support China has given to Cuba's just cause. Cuba firmly supports the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative put forth by President Xi Jinping, and stands ready to work with China to deepen the Belt and Road cooperation, build a Cuba-China community with a shared future, and move forward hand-in-hand along the paths of building socialism with their respective characteristics. Cuba will work closely with China to promote the success of the G77 plus China Summit.
Cai Qi and Wang Yi, among others, attended the meeting.