On September 28, 2020, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba Raul Castro Ruz, and President Miguel Diaz-Canel of Cuba to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations.

In his congratulatory message to Raul Castro Ruz, Xi Jinping pointed out, Cuba is the first Latin American country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Over the past 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Cuba relations have withstood the vicissitudes of the international situation and grown ever stronger. The two countries continue to deepen political mutual trust and have enjoyed fruitful results in practical cooperation. In combating the COVID-19pandemic, China and Cuba have helped and supported each other, lifting the traditional friendship between the two countries to a new high. I cherish the unique friendly relations between China and Cuba very much and I am willing to maintain close communication with you. We should take the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to make China and Cuba good friends, good comrades and good brothers forever.

In his message to Miguel Diaz-Canel, Xi Jinping noted, over the past 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Cuba have forged a deep friendship through mutual understanding, mutual trust and mutual support. In recent years, the friendly cooperation between China and Cuba has witnessed all-round and in-depth development, and the two countries have been actively promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, bringing concrete benefits to the two peoples. During the COVID-19 outbreak, China and Cuba have stood together and looked out for each other, writing a new chapter in the friendship between the two peoples. I attach great importance to the development of China-Cuba relations, and I am willing to work with you to continuously deepen political mutual trust, and expand practical cooperation in various fields to better benefit the two countries and peoples.

Raul Castro Ruz said in his message, Cuba is the first Latin American country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China and has always maintained sincere friendship with brotherly China, the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people. The Cuban side thanks the Chinese side for its firm support and is convinced that the 60-year-old friendship between Cuba and China will be passed down from generation to generation and last forever.

Miguel Diaz-Canel stated in the message, the close friendship between Cuba and China has stood the test of time. Both sides have always appreciated each other's achievements in socialist construction as their own. In the face of the COVID-19, Cuba and China have been committed to unity and cooperation, and pooling resources to save lives. The two countries have also adopted scientific prevention and control measures and carried out international cooperation. We are willing to continue consolidating the traditional friendship between Cuba and China and expanding cooperation in various fields.

On the same day, Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Marrero Cruz of Cuba also exchanged congratulatory messages. Li Keqiang said, over the past six decades, China-Cuba relations have developed rapidly as cooperation in various fields continues to advance. Such bilateral relationship has not only benefited the two countries and peoples but also exerted a positive influence on the development of China-Latin America relations. China and Cuba have shared weal and woe and helped each other in the fight against the pandemic, further deepening the traditional friendship between the two countries. Attaching great importance to the development of China-Cuba relations, the Chinese side is willing to work with the Cuban side to carry forward the friendly tradition between the two countries, consolidate political mutual trust, enrich the content and results of mutually beneficial cooperation, make concerted efforts in building the Belt and Road Initiative, and promote anti-epidemic cooperation, so as to continuously promote stable development of China-Cuba relations in the new era and push bilateral relations to new highs. On behalf of the Cuban government and people, Marrero Cruz extended his warmest congratulations to China and said, the Cuban side is ready to continue deepening bilateral economic and trade cooperation and raise it to a higher level.