China is calling on the US to immediately and fully end the embargo on Cuba, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a briefing on Monday
More than 100,000 people took to the streets of Cuba on Sunday to express support for the government and condemn the mass protests held in the country, the country’s Foreign Ministry said people were driven by a desire to protect their country from foreign interference.
The diplomat said China had always believed it was necessary to respect the right of every country to choose its own social system and development path.
“China supports Cuba in seeking development paths that are in line with the country’s national conditions, Beijing strongly opposes external interference in Cuba’s internal affairs”, – Lijian added.
He said China supports the Cuban authorities’ efforts to fight the pandemic, improve the people’s living conditions, maintain stability and deepen friendly relations between China and Cuba.
“China has always advocated maintaining a world order based on international law, in defence of justice and impartiality in international relations, against unilateral sanctions involving military, political, economic or other measures.”
Zhao Lijian pointed out that according to Cuban statistics, Cuba has suffered a total of $144 billion in losses during the 60 years of the US embargo. The politician recalled that the UN General Assembly on June 23 approved a resolution calling for an end to the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba. The resolution was voted for by 184 states, opposed by the US and Israel, and abstained by three (including Ukraine, the UAE).
“We call on the US to immediately and fully lift the embargo on Cuba. We hope that Washington will improve relations with Havana in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms of international relations, this is in the common interest of the peoples of the US and Cuba”, – he added.