"China and Cuba are united in a common path of revolutionary struggle to achieve full independence and sovereignty, facing aggression of all kinds," said Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, member of the Political Bureau and Cuban foreign minister, on Thursday during his speech at the ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese people's war of resistance against Japanese aggression and the global anti-fascist war.
Led by the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the commemoration brought together Party, State, and Government leaders, representatives of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, the Ministry of the Interior, the Union of Young Communists, and mass organizations at the Palace of the Revolution. as well as the ambassador of the People's Republic of China, Hua Xin, officials from his embassy, students, and businesspeople from that sister nation.
Rodríguez Parrilla highlighted that the struggle waged by the heroic Chinese people was the first of its kind to begin and the longest lasting. "It also marked China's first complete victory after almost a century of external aggression. That great triumph also paved the way for national revitalization."
The significance of that victory for China and for the world must be appreciated at its true value, he said, "no one could underestimate it or downplay its importance, even though there is a persistent imperialist attempt to erase history, distort it, and trivialize it, as part of that neoliberal and capitalist restoration that is being imposed on us."
The Cuban foreign minister highlighted how the Chinese people, with singular courage, prevented enemy troops from crossing their territory and reaching the border with the then Soviet Union, just as Nazi Germany was invading the USSR.
Recalling these events at the present time, he added, when the world is once again facing the consequences of war, and world peace and stability are threatened by warmongering interests, when neo-fascist tendencies are gaining ground, is also a call to humanity not to forget the lessons of history and a reminder that what we need today is to devote our energies and efforts to preserving peace and promoting development and justice.
Amidst this tenacious resistance, the Minister of Foreign Affairs pointed out, a giant was forged, not only because of its vast geography and unparalleled size, but also because of the wise decision to build a prosperous future, with the collective support of the men and women of the people, because the struggle belonged to everyone, not just to an army.
"The subsequent founding of New China in 1949 was a milestone in the struggle for true independence and sovereignty for the peoples. Only a genuine project such as that led by Mao and the Chinese revolutionaries could restore the full dignity of the self-sacrificing Chinese people," said the minister.
"Eighty years later, China, under the wise and effective leadership of the Communist Party, stands as a great country, with proven strengths and unwavering determination.
"Although the challenges on the road to its development have been considerable, the Asian giant has persevered in defending a socialist model with its own peculiarities, which promotes peace, respect, and solidarity as fundamental values."
Regarding relations between the two countries, the Foreign Minister noted that "Cuba is honored to have been the first country in the Western Hemisphere to recognize the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate representative of the Chinese people, and on September 28, we will mark the 65th anniversary of uninterrupted diplomatic ties."
He emphasized that Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz and Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, as well as the new generations of Party and government leaders, have given high priority and personal attention to promoting the comprehensive development of relations with China.
Rodríguez Parrilla welcomed the rise of a prosperous and socialist China. "Its development is a factor of stability, balance, and opportunity for the entire planet and, in particular, for developing countries and the Latin American and Caribbean region," he acknowledged.
The head of the Minrex thanked China for its clear and resounding opposition to the US economic, commercial, and financial blockade, as well as to the arbitrary inclusion of our country on the spurious list of so-called state sponsors of terrorism.
"Cuba maintains and will continue to maintain firm and unrestricted support for the One China principle and will resolutely oppose any attempt to undermine its sovereignty and territorial integrity," he reiterated.
The Chinese people can always count on the support of the Cuban Revolution; together we will contribute to building a more just and equitable future for all nations, the foreign minister emphasized.
For his part, Ambassador Hua Xin, in his remarks at the event, recalled that 80 years ago, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and after 14 years of bloody battles and the enormous sacrifice of more than 35 million people, the Chinese people defeated the Japanese militarist invaders and achieved a great victory.
It was a victory not only for the Chinese people, he said, but also for other peoples around the world. "Honoring the heroes who sacrificed themselves in the war and all those who contributed to the victory of the Chinese people is a sign of respect for history," he said.
On September 3 this year, he reported, a grand military parade will be held in Beijing, "to which we will invite international friends who contributed to China's victory to observe the ceremony, to commemorate the joint struggle of the past and expand the forces of justice in today's world."
The painful lessons of World War II have not been forgotten, he warned, and history must move forward rather than backward; the world must unite rather than divide. We commemorate this important day to alert the international community to learn from history and firmly oppose all forms of hegemony and power politics, he said.
The Chinese diplomat said that peace-loving peoples around the world must remember the history written with blood and lives, firmly defend the achievements of victory in World War II, adhere to true multilateralism, and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, working together for a brighter future.
He considered that China and Cuba are important forces in the Global South, and "we will stand firm on the right side of history, strengthen unity and cooperation, in order to jointly make greater contributions to world peace and development, and to the defense of international equity and justice."
