BEIJING, Sept. 16 -- Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun held talks in Beijing on September 16 with Álvaro López Miera, the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba, who is visiting China to attend the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum.

Dong said that China and Cuba have supported each other on issues concerning each other's core interests since the establishment of their diplomatic relations 65 years ago, setting an example of unity and cooperation among socialist countries and sincere mutual assistance among developing countries. He noted that China is willing to work with Cuba to jointly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two parties and the two countries, maintain the good momentum of deepening military cooperation between the two sides, further strengthen high-level strategic communication, enhance personnel exchanges, deepen practical cooperation, promote military relations between the two sides to a new level, and jointly build a China-Cuba community with a shared future.

López said that Cuba and China share a profound revolutionary friendship. Cuba is grateful to China for its valuable support in Cuba's national and military development as well as for China's principled stand in international forums to uphold Cuba's legitimate rights and interests. He emphasized that Cuba highly commends and fully supports the four major global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping. Cuba consistently adheres to the one-China principle and resolutely opposes any interference in China's internal affairs. Cuba will continue to consolidate and strengthen the special friendly relations between Cuba and China, and further improve the cooperation between the two countries and their militaries.

Prior to the talks, Admiral Dong Jun held a welcome ceremony for López and accompanied him to review the Guard of Honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.