Members of the Cuban School of Wushu perform lion dance during a political-cultural event held to mark the 170th anniversary of Chinese presence in Cuba in Regla, Cuba, June 3, 2017. The 170th anniversary of Chinese presence in Cuba was commemorated in the coastal town of Regla Saturday, where the first 200 Chinese arrived in 1847. (Xinhua/Joaquin Hernandez)
HAVANA, June 3 (Xinhua) -- The 170th anniversary of Chinese presence in Cuba was commemorated in the coastal town of Regla Saturday, where the first 200 Chinese arrived in 1847.
A political-cultural event took place to remember this occasion, with the presence of a Chinese delegation headed by Ma Peihua, vice chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, local authorities and the Chinese community in Cuba.
Ma stressed that the friendship between the two peoples has lasted for 170 years since the first Chinese migrants overcame adverse conditions to become active members of society and contribute to the island's economic development.
He also recalled that Cuba was the first country in Latin America and Western Hemisphere to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, with bilateral relations now being "mature and stable."
"Our links are constantly operating at a high level. A sign of that is that President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang respectively made successful visits to Cuba in recent years," he said.
Ma stressed that relations between Beijing and Havana have withstood changing international situations and their peoples have enjoyed a deep friendship.
Ma said that China is ready to maintain friendly relations with Cuba and to deepen bilateral cooperation for mutual benefit.
Meanwhile, a retired army general of Chinese descent, Guillermo Chui, said that this date has great significance as it reaffirms that, after 170 years, the Chinese community is prominently participating in Cuban society.
As part of the commemoration, a cultural event was held in Havana showing Chinese martial arts and dances blended with traditional Cuban rhythms, such as rumba and guaguanco.
