China Pledges Firm Support for Cuba Against Sanctions During Foreign Minister’s Beijing Visit

China has pledged continued support for Cuba's sovereignty and its opposition to sanctions and external interference, as the two governments seek to reinforce their long-standing political relationship amid continuing economic and diplomatic pressure on Havana.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the commitment during talks in Beijing on Wednesday with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, who is visiting China as a special envoy of the Cuban Communist Party and government.

Wang said China would continue to support Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests, regardless of how the international situation develops. He also reiterated Beijing's opposition to sanctions, blockades and foreign interference, according to the Chinese government's account of the meeting.

The meeting was reported by Reuters and Xinhua.

Wang described the relationship between China and Cuba as a long-standing friendship and said Beijing was willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Havana on multilateral affairs. The two countries would continue to support each other in international organizations and work together to oppose unilateral actions and what China describes as power politics.

He also asked Rodríguez to convey greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping to former Cuban leader Raúl Castro and Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel.

The visit comes as Cuba continues to face serious economic difficulties, including shortages of fuel, electricity and essential goods. The country has experienced prolonged power disruptions and pressure on its public finances, while the U.S. economic embargo remains a major source of tension in its relations with Washington.

China has historically maintained close political ties with Cuba, which became the first country in the Western Hemisphere to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1960. The two governments have frequently expressed support for each other in international forums and have described their relationship as one based on solidarity and mutual assistance.

Economic cooperation has also been an important part of bilateral ties. China has supplied Cuba with equipment, vehicles, consumer goods and other products, while cooperation has extended into infrastructure, energy, agriculture and technology.

However, Cuba's economic difficulties have created challenges for international partners seeking to expand trade and investment. Foreign currency shortages, payment constraints, energy infrastructure problems and the country's wider financial situation have complicated commercial activity.

For Beijing, maintaining relations with Havana is also part of its broader diplomatic engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean. China has expanded trade, infrastructure investment and political dialogue with countries across the region, positioning itself as an important economic partner outside the traditional influence of the United States.

The Chinese government has repeatedly criticized unilateral sanctions and argued that economic restrictions should not undermine the development rights of other countries. Washington, by contrast, has maintained that its Cuba policy is linked to concerns over political freedoms and governance.

The latest statement from Wang reflects the continued diplomatic gap between the two positions. It also signals that Beijing intends to maintain its support for Cuba despite the island's economic challenges and the broader geopolitical pressures surrounding the Caribbean.

The meeting took place during a period of active diplomatic engagement between China and several countries. Beijing has recently announced visits by foreign ministers and senior officials from Europe, Asia and Latin America, reflecting its effort to maintain high-level contacts across different regions.

Although the latest discussions emphasized political solidarity, the Chinese and Cuban governments have not announced a specific new financial assistance package or major economic agreement as part of Wednesday's meeting.

The practical impact of the visit will therefore depend on whether the two sides can translate political commitments into cooperation in areas such as energy supply, infrastructure modernization, food security and trade.

For Cuba, relations with China remain an important element of its effort to diversify international partnerships. For China, the relationship provides a longstanding diplomatic connection in the Caribbean and reinforces its opposition to unilateral sanctions as a principle of foreign policy.