On the morning of September 4, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of the State Xi Jinping met with First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Díaz-Canel was in China to attend events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Xi Jinping pointed out that in recent years, the construction of the China-Cuba community with a shared future has deepened and achieved tangible results, becoming a distinct symbol of the ironclad friendship between the two Parties and nations. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cuba. Both sides should take this opportunity to elevate China-Cuba relations to a higher level, better benefiting the peoples of both countries.

Xi Jinping emphasized that China and Cuba must adhere to sharing a common future, deepen high-level political mutual trust, further intensify high-level exchanges, strengthen exchanges of experience in party and state governance, firmly support each other, and continue to deepen their special bond of unwavering mutual trust. They must persist in sincere mutual assistance, systematically advance development cooperation; China is willing to continue providing assistance and support to Cuba within its capacity. They must work together with one heart, strengthen all-round strategic coordination, continue to coordinate and cooperate within frameworks such as the Group of 77 and BRICS, implement the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative, and Global Governance Initiative, jointly establish the International Organization for Mediation, and make greater contributions to promoting world peace and development. China will continue to firmly support Cuba’s just struggle against interference and blockade.

Díaz-Canel expressed that the events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression were grand and warm, holding significant historical meaning. China’s important contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War will be forever remembered. Cuba was the first country in Latin America to build a bilateral community with a shared future with China; the relations between the two Parties and countries are close, and their friendship is unbreakable. Cuba firmly adheres to the One-China principle, thanks China for its selfless support and assistance in Cuba’s economic and social development, and looks forward to continuing to strengthen all-round cooperation, high-quality joint construction of the “Belt and Road,” and is willing to provide a better business environment for Chinese enterprises. Cuba highly appreciates and fully supports the global governance initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping, will actively implement them, promote a more just and reasonable international governance system, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

The two sides issued the Joint Statement of the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Cuba on Accelerating the Construction of a China-Cuba Community with a Shared Future, and signed multiple bilateral cooperation documents in areas including joint construction of the “Belt and Road,” practical cooperation, the Global Security Initiative, local agriculture, and artificial intelligence.

Great Hall of the People

The Great Hall of the People is a state building located on the western edge of Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Completed in 1959, it was built in just ten months as one of the “Ten Great Buildings” constructed to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. It serves as the meeting place for the National People’s Congress and for major political and diplomatic events.

Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression

The Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was a major conflict fought between China and Japan from 1937 to 1945, which became a crucial part of the broader Pacific Theater of World War II. It began with the Marco Polo Bridge Incident and involved immense Chinese civilian and military casualties. This prolonged war of resistance is a foundational event in modern Chinese history, symbolizing national resilience and unity against foreign invasion.

World Anti-Fascist War

The term “World Anti-Fascist War” refers to the global conflict fought from 1937 to 1945, primarily known as World War II, which was a struggle by Allied nations against the expansionist Axis powers. It is a term of particular historical and political significance in China, where it emphasizes the country’s role and immense sacrifices in the war against Japanese militarism, beginning with the invasion in 1937. The conflict ultimately concluded with the defeat of the fascist Axis alliance in 1945.

Group of 77

The Group of 77 (G77) is not a physical place but a coalition of developing nations, first established in 1964 by 77 countries. Its primary purpose is to promote its members’ collective economic interests and enhance their joint negotiating capacity on major international economic issues within the United Nations system.

BRICS

BRICS is not a physical place or cultural site, but an acronym for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. It was originally conceived in 2006 as “BRIC” and formally became “BRICS” with the addition of South Africa in 2010. The group’s primary goals are to enhance economic cooperation and promote mutual development among its member countries.

Global Development Initiative

The Global Development Initiative is a China-led international framework launched in 2021, aiming to accelerate the implementation of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It focuses on cooperation in areas such as poverty reduction, food security, and green development, positioning itself as a platform for fostering a global community with a shared future.

Global Security Initiative

The Global Security Initiative is a Chinese foreign policy framework introduced in 2022 that promotes a vision of international security based on cooperation and multilateralism. It advocates for common, comprehensive, and sustainable security, positioning itself as an alternative to what it perceives as unilateral security approaches. The initiative reflects China’s ambition to play a greater role in shaping global security governance and norms.

Global Civilization Initiative

The Global Civilization Initiative is a Chinese foreign policy proposal launched in 2023 that advocates for respect among different world civilizations. It promotes principles of equality, mutual learning, and dialogue to foster international cooperation, positioning itself as an alternative to perceived Western-dominated cultural and value systems.