The first joint Russia-China seminar took place this Wednesday in Havana to mark diplomatic anniversaries and express solidarity with Cuba.
Carlos Miguel Pereira Hernández, director general of bilateral affairs at the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the recent offers of support from Russia and China are genuine expressions of solidarity that the Cuban people will never forget. The seminar marked the 77th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 30th anniversary of the strategic partnership between Russia and China. Pereira Hernández noted that Cuba will defend its sovereignty inspired by the example of Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, who turned 95 that day. Russian ambassador Viktor Koronelli highlighted more than 300 treaties between Russia and China and called the US blockade a criminal policy. Chinese ambassador Hua Xin praised the unity of the Cuban people against external threats. First Deputy Minister Gerardo Peñalver Portal and other diplomats and academics attended. The ambassadors congratulated Raúl Castro on his birthday.