在今天凌晨4点20分，俄罗斯总统普京的专机就已经抵达北京首都国际机场。
Alberto Blanco Silva, Cuban Ambassador to China, gives opening remarks at the commemoration in Beijing on August 13, 2026. Photo: Dong Feng/GTThe Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in China hosted a commemorating session in Beijing on August 13 to mark the centennial of the birth of the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro Ruz. The event is not only about remembering an individual leader, but revisiting a decades-old relationship.
Delegates' speeches evaluated Fidel's role in promoting Cuba-China ties, especially when Cuba became the first Latin American and Caribbean country to establish diplomatic relations with China.
Alberto Blanco Silva, Cuban Ambassador to China, said in his opening remarks that the revolutionary leader is a figure whose influence transcends borders, time, generations, and ideologies.
Blanco noted that Fidel's life was devoted to Cuba's independence, social justice, solidarity among people, Latin American and Caribbean integration, and Global South, the socialist cause, and a more just and equitable international order.
Ambassador Blanco said that from Fidel, "we learned to practice solidarity through deeds, not merely beautiful words; to remain steadfast in the face of adversity and prudent in victory." For decades, Fidel's voice was echoed among developing countries, Blanco said, adding that Fidel promoted transformations that changed the course of Cuba's history.
Blanco also regarded Fidel as a statesman with a universal vision. Recalling the South Summit held in Havana, Cuba, in 2000, Ambassador Blanco quoted Fidel, saying "Globalization is an objective reality, which reveals our conditions as passengers abroad the same vessel - this planet inhabited by us all."
With this metaphor, Fidel illustrated the urgent need to unite global efforts as an international community to save the planet and humanity, preserve the future of our children, and reduce the gap between the North and the South, Blanco continued.
The Cuban Ambassador also noted Fidel's personal attention to China-Cuba relations.
Fidel, on behalf of the historic leadership, took the initiative, during a mass rally on September 2, 1960, to consult the people and announce the sovereign decision to establish diplomatic relations with the Government of the People's Republic of China, making Cuba the first country in the Western Hemisphere to dare take that step, the ambassador said, switching his speech from Spanish to Chinese.
Blanco added that it was Fidel who, with great frankness and courage, addressed the issue of the exclusion of the People's Republic of China and its admission to the United Nations in his speech before the United Nations on September 26, 1960.
Fidel also consistently upheld the one-China principle and, through his speeches and reflections, condemned interference in China's internal affairs and attempts to undermine the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the People's Republic of China. At the same time, Fidel helped foster mutual interest between Latin America and the Caribbean and China.
Moreover, Fidel instructed that the book,
The Long March, an account of a great military feat by Red Army in 1930s whose 90th anniversary we are commemorating this year, be published. Fidel knew its history in great detail and regarded it as an inexhaustible source of inspiration, Blanco recalled.
From Blanco's view, Fidel has helped forge a bond that today stands as an example of cooperation between a large country and a small one, based on equality and mutual respect.
The diplomat said that today, the joint construction of a China-Cuba community with a shared future is an expression of the high-level of strategic trust achieved between "our countries and opens new opportunities to expand cooperation for the benefit of both our peoples."
"One hundred years after his birth, Fidel Castro remains present in the memory of all those who are grateful to him and all those who defend just causes, both within and beyond Cuba," Blanco concluded.
One of the reasons why Fidel is still relevant today is that while people commemorate him, they are also reaffirming the value of the bilateral friendship, which Fidel forged and helped strengthen.
Ma Hui, Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, gives a speech at the session in Beijing on August 13, 2026. Photo: Dong Feng/GT Ma Hui, Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, said in his speech that Fidel was a founder of the Communist Party of Cuba and the socialist cause, and made significant contributions to Cuba's national independence and to international fairness and justice.
Ma served as Chinese Ambassador to Cuba from 2021 to 2024.
Ma said he visited on numerous occasions the Fidel Castro Center, which is located not far from the Chinese Embassy, as well as museums that feature Fidel.
"The more I learned about Comrade Fidel Castro, the more I was captivated by his noble character, outstanding qualities, and personal charisma," said Ma.
Fidel visited China twice and warmly received several Chinese leaders on their visits to Cuba, making historic contributions to the development of China-Cuba relations. The Chinese people will never forget him, Ma said.
In the current complex and evolving international landscape, China firmly supports Cuba in exploring a path of socialist development suited to its national conditions, firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding national sovereignty and security and opposing foreign interference, and stands ready to work together with Cuba and the wider international community to jointly uphold international fairness and justice, Ma stressed.
。这次也是普京获得连任后的首次国事访问，虽说，普京已经是中国的常客，但这次中方依旧采取了高规格接待。
尽管这次普京到达的时间是凌晨，但中方的官员早已等候在机场。在其专机一落地，红毯就立即从舱门铺至普京的专车，三军仪仗队也立即就位，国宾护卫队还派出了21辆车全程为普京保驾护航。
并且，谌贻琴此前担任贵州省省委书记时还是全国唯一一位女省委书记，让她来为普京接机，也是较为特殊的安排，也足以说明中国对普京的重视程度相当高的。在普京走下舷梯后，就热情地与谌贻琴握手问好。
而普京这次在机场的几个细节举动也十分暖心。在他与谌贻琴握手时不仅面带微笑，还在对方说话期间频频点头以示尊重，但在与后面几位男性官员握手问好时却较为简洁。不仅如此，在和接机的官员逐一问候之后，谌贻琴就陪同普京朝其专车走去。
由此可见，普京也相当重视这趟访华之行的。在临行前的专访中，普京也特别强调，当前中俄关系已经达到了历史最高水平，双方关系是独立于意识形态和政治局势之外，中俄关系不断加深不仅是自觉的战略选择，还符合两国的根本利益，更重要的是得到了强大的民意支持。
显然，普京的这番表态想强调的是中俄关系不仅仅是基于政治层面，亦或是对国际形势的选择，而是基于两国民意的自主选择。所以，普京当前是将中国作为朋友来看待的。当然，除了这些形式上的东西，普京访华也是有着实际性的需求。
从普京这次的行程安排来看，中俄双方元首不仅会举行一些大、小范围的会谈，双方还将签署多份合作文件。此外，普京还会前往哈尔滨，出席第8届中俄博览会以及第四届中俄地方合作论坛开幕式，并且，还会去哈尔滨工业大学与该校师生进行交流。
从这些安排就不难看出，普京此行的重心还是放在中俄两国的经贸与地方性合作上，这几年中俄两国的双边贸易不断有新突破，去年已经达到2278亿美元，中国更是连续13年成为俄罗斯的最大贸易伙伴国。
