Nicosia, Cyprus, August 17, 2026. The Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba in Cyprus, Mr Rubén Pino Martínez, received on Monday Mr Yang Yundong, the Hon. Ambassador of the People's Republic of China in Cyprus, during a courtesy visit held at the Cuban diplomatic mission's facilities in this capital.
During the meeting, the Cuban diplomat confirmed to his Chinese counterpart the honour of hosting him at the Caribbean embassy, while expressing his joy and deep gratitude for the repeated and consistent support that the People's Republic of China has given to Cuba over the years, as a sign of the close ties of friendship and cooperation that unite both nations.
During the exchange, Pino Martínez reiterated his government's and people's gratitude for the most recent delivery in Havana of a new shipment of 15,000 tons of rice from China, the third batch received last week as part of a donation from the Chinese government totalling 60,000 tons of rice.
The donation, received at the Haiphong Terminal of the Port of Havana, was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Óscar Pérez Oliva, the Cuban Minister of Domestic Trade, Betsy Díaz Velázquez, and the Chinese Ambassador to Cuba, Hua Xin.
For his part, Ambassador Yang Yundong expressed his recognition and mutual respect and support for Cuba and condemned the hostile U.S. blockade policy against the island and its current energy siege, while also reiterating the strong and close bonds of friendship and solidarity that have characterized relations between the two countries for decades, promoted by two peoples and governments that share common principles and positions on the international stage.
Both diplomats recalled the legacy of Fidel Castro Ruz in the year of the centenary of his birth and how much the Commander-in-Chief did and promoted to consolidate the cherished ties of friendship and cooperation that China and Cuba share today as sister nations.
The Cuban ambassador reiterated his welcome and his full willingness to support the new Chinese ambassador in Cyprus, assuring him that the doors of the diplomatic mission will always be open to him and his work team. Before concluding his visit, the Honourable Ambassador of the People's Republic of China in Cyprus shared with his Cuban counterpart the pleasure of extending an early invitation for him to join on the upcoming September 14 during the reception his diplomatic mission will host, on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Cuban Embassy in Cyprus.