China puts its weight behind Cuba against external interference, blockades

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - China will continue to support Cuba in the face of alleged external interference and blockades, President Xi Jinping has said.

Lauding Havana for “always firmly” supporting Beijing on issues concerning China's core interests, Xi told his Cuban counterpart Miguel Diaz-Canel that China “will continue to firmly support Cuba in defending its national sovereignty, opposing foreign interference and blockade.”

Beijing, Xi added, “will do its best to provide support for Cuba's economic and social development,” a statement from China’s Foreign Ministry said.

The duo met late Wednesday on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS summit in Johannesburg, the commercial capital city of South Africa.

Meanwhile, Xi also met with his Senegalese counterpart Macky Sall and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Xi told Hasina that China supports Bangladesh in “safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and opposes external interference.”

He stressed that Beijing and Dhaka should “strengthen strategic communication and intensify exchanges.”