In the evening of September 25, 2016 local time, Premier Li Keqiang and his wife Mme. Cheng Hong attended the art performance themed as Night of Havana under “Hand in Hand: China-Latin America Cultural Exchange Year” at the Great Theater of Havana. Entrusted by President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers Raul Castro Ruz of Cuba, who is outside the country, Second Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and Vice President of the Council of State José R. Machado Ventura and First Vice-president of the Council of State and Council of Ministers Miguel Díaz-Canel of Cuba accompanied them.

The 2016 China-Latin America Cultural Exchange Year was held at the same time in China and Latin America and the Caribbean region, making it the largest annual cultural event jointly held by China and Latin America countries.

The Great Theater of Havana was ablaze with lights and all seats were occupied. Cuban leaders warmly welcomed Li Keqiang and his wife before jointly walking into the theater. Chinese and Cuban audiences applauded warmly and rose to greet them.

The performance began with Flowing Light and Color, a dancing program showcasing the long-standing and magnificent Chinese culture. Chinese martial arts, acrobatics, dances and others were all presented and the exquisite performances of the artists not only demonstrated the depth of traditional Chinese culture, but also presented the vigorous style of modern China. Dances and songs performed by Cuban artists, with lively rhythm, were enthusiastic and untrammeled, showing their superb techniques.

Li Keqiang and Cuban leaders talked from time to time while watching the performance, introducing the connotation as well as related cultural background and artistic features of the shows to each other. They both agreed that China and Cuba should carry out various forms of cultural and artistic activities more frequently, so that people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Cuba can be more active and colorful, and the traditional friendship between the two countries can take deeper roots in people’s hearts.

The classic Cuban folk song Guantanamera jointly sung by Chinese and Cuban performers pushed the show to a high point with audiences applauding and cheering to the rhythm. Such resonance between performers and audiences presented the vitality of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and demonstrated the moving picture of China-Cuba friendship.

Leaders of both sides highly praised the Chinese and Cuban artists for their excellent performance, and agreed that the activity is conducive to bilateral cultural exchanges and the friendship between the two peoples.

The art show ended with Chinese and Cuban hosts wishing long-lasting and generations of friendship between the two countries.

On September 24, Mme. Chen Hong, wife of Premier Li Keqiang visited the Osvaldo Herrera Technical School, accompanied by Minister of Education Ena Elsa Velazquez Cobiella of Cuba. She conducted warm communication with faculty members and students, and donated teaching equipments and supplies to the school.