On February 20, 2012, Vice Premier Hui Liangyu met with Marino Murillo Jorge, vice president of Cuba's Council of Ministers and a member of the political bureau of the central committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.

Cuba is the first Latin American country to forge diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China, said Hui. He hailed the rapid growth momentum of bilateral friendly relations, saying it has been highlighted by frequent high-level contacts, deepening political trust, the stable development of economic and trade relations, enhanced level of cooperation, thriving people-to-people and cultural exchanges and close coordination in international affairs. Hui said China will work with Cuba to maintain high-level contacts and deepen pragmatic cooperation in economic areas in order to boost bilateral ties.

Murillo Jorge said China-Cuba relations have "withstood the test of time," adding that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 52 years ago, people-to-people exchanges have increased and bilateral ties have become increasingly "close and mature." The political party and government of Cuba highly value their relationship with China and are ready to work with China to exchange governing experience, promote cooperation in all areas and contribute to the long-term development of bilateral relations on the existing sound basis, Murillo Jorge said.