First shipment of emergency food assistance from China handed over to Cuba

On April 3 local time, the first shipment of emergency food assistance from the Chinese government to Cuba arrived at the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana. Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) Luo Zhaohui, Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Ma Hui, Huang Yan, a member of the Leading Party Members Group of China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, as well as Cuban Vice-Prime Minister Jorge Luis Tapia Fonseca and Member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee Yudí Mercedes Rodríguez Hernández attended the handover ceremony held at the airport.

In his remarks, Luo said that the Chinese government is proud of every bit of progress made by their Cuban friends and feels the strain when they suffer from difficulties. Noting that the assistance delivered today is a symbol of friendship from the Chinese people, he said that China will always stand together with Cuba, sharing weal and woe, and strive to realize the China-Cuba socialist community with a shared future and build a better world.

Fonseca expressed his sincere appreciation to China on behalf of the Cuban government, the Communist Party of Cuba and the Cuban people, and underscored the significance of this donation. The United States' imposition of arbitrary sanctions on Cuba for over six decades has significantly and detrimentally affected the country, leading to continuously worsening conditions. This donation demonstrates the solidarity and support from the Chinese people, he said. He reiterated that Cuba supports high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the Global Development Initiative, as Cuba and China share the same values and believe in a brighter future.

In addition to this shipment of food supplies, which arrived by air, more food supplies will be gradually delivered to Cuba by air and sea.