(June 5, 2024 La Habana)

Honorable Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa，

Mr. José Ramón Monteagudo Ruiz, Member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee and Head of Department of Food and Agriculture,

Ministers and other senior Party, government representatives,

Distinguished colleagues from the Diplomatic Corps,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Good evening!

As the English proverb goes,“All good things come to an end.” I took up my Ambassadorship in July 2021 and since then have spent 1,047 memorable days in Cuba. Next week I will complete my mission and return to China. I am honored  by your graceful presence this evening. I say thank-you and fond farewell.

As a first-time ambassador, I am privileged to be in brotherly Cuba and be able to contribute to the promotion of bilateral relations. I am gratified China-Cuba relations have achieved positive results and are now in a better shape.

I witnessed enhanced political mutual trust. President Díaz-Canel, who is also First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party paid a successful state visit to China, and reached important consensuses with President Xi Jinping, also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and decided to build a community with a shared future for our two countries. There have been frequent exchanges between the two countries at all levels and in all fields, cementing already close fraternal ties.

I witnessed continuous expansion of practical economic and trade cooperation. The Chinese and Cuban governments jointly held the 30th Session of the Mixed Economic and Trade Commission after some considerable delay unfortunately, and have continuously improved the cooperation mechanism under the Belt and Road Initiative. Through joint efforts, we have restored some key projects, which would contribute to Cuba’s economic and social development. In the face of the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent economic and social difficulties, China and Cuba stood by each other and helped each other. This fully demonstrates the deep brotherhood between the two nations.

I witnessed more diversified people-to-people contacts. There have been frequent exchanges in culture, education, science and technology, media and think tanks; cooperation at the sub-national level has become more active. One more Cuba university and secondary school introduced Chinese language teaching. The direct flights between China and Cuba were restored and Cuba offered visa-free short-stays to Chinese visitors holding ordinary passports. The delightful measures above create new opportunities for expanding tourism cooperation, drawing the two peoples even closer.

The further progress in the special and friendly relations between China and Cuba are the results of the strategic leadership and personal attention of the leaders of both nations and the joint efforts of many ministries, institutions in both nations. Here, I would like to thank the Cuban Party, government and people, as well colleagues of the diplomatic corps for their support. I want to thank the Chinese enterprises, students and the broader Chinese community in Cuba for their contribution. In particular, I would like to thank my colleagues in the Embassy for their hard work, valuable support. We together played an important part in our bilateral relations.

Over the past three years, I have travelled to many places in Cuba, visited a number of institutions and organizations, met with people from different sectors, and held many events. There are many fond memories indeed. I will always remember Cuba and cherish the friendship with the Cuban people. In the future, wherever I am, I will do what I can to promote China-Cuba friendship, enhance mutual understanding and cooperation between China and the rest of the world, so as to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results and common prosperity!

An ancient Chinese poem reads, “Green hills immerse in the same cloud and rain. The same moon lights up towns however far away.” I wish prosperity to Cuba and happiness to its people; I wish everyone peace and prosperity!

See you soon! Hasta Pronto (Spanish)！