On Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made a commitment in Beijing to back Cuba in safeguarding its sovereignty and resisting external sanctions and interference, regardless of how situations may change. This announcement was reported by the state-run agency Xinhua following his meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla.
Rodríguez is visiting China from November 10 to 13 as a special envoy from the Communist Party and the Cuban government, marking his second trip to Beijing this year.
During the discussion, Wang Yi expressed China's readiness to "enhance communication and coordination with Cuba on multilateral issues, continue mutual support and cooperation in multilateral forums, and jointly oppose power politics and unilateral actions."
The Chinese diplomat also requested Rodríguez to convey the greetings from President Xi Jinping to Raúl Castro and President Miguel Díaz-Canel, according to the official meeting summary released by Xinhua.
Rodríguez described the talks as "fruitful" in his social media posts, expressing gratitude for "the continuous support and solidarity of the Chinese Party, Government, and People, particularly in the transition to a new energy matrix amid the current fuel blockade by the U.S. government."
In addition to Wang Yi, the Cuban minister met with Wang Huning, a member of the Communist Party of China’s Politburo Standing Committee; Liu Haixing, head of the Party's International Liaison Department; and Chen Xiaodong, president of the China International Development Cooperation Agency.
The visit comes amid heightened tensions with Washington. Just six days prior, the U.S. State Department sanctioned two Chinese state-owned enterprises—CEIEC and Beijing H&C Technologies—for providing surveillance technology and military components to Cuba's Ministry of the Armed Forces through the entity Duna S.A., under Executive Order 14404 signed by Trump in May 2026.
Beijing denounced these sanctions, labeling them as attempts to "sabotage" China-Cuba bilateral cooperation and vowed to take "all necessary measures" to defend its companies' interests.
The political support from China arrives as Cuba faces its most severe energy crisis of the year: available generation meets only 38% of demand, with power outages exceeding 20 hours daily in some areas, and the electrical grid has collapsed at least eight times in 2026.
China's tangible aid includes $80 million in emergency funds approved by Xi in January, 60,000 tons of rice, photovoltaic systems, and 49 solar parks with a combined capacity of 120 MW. However, China has not committed to direct oil supply or formal renegotiation of bilateral debt.
Rodríguez summed up the tone of the tour by highlighting "the solid and strategic ties between both Parties, Governments, and Peoples, as evidenced in the current challenges faced by our country," although the visit did not result in announcements of new specific economic commitments.
Understanding the China-Cuba Relationship Amidst Tensions
What was the primary purpose of Bruno Rodríguez's visit to China?
Bruno Rodríguez visited China as a special envoy from the Cuban Communist Party and government to strengthen bilateral ties and discuss multilateral coordination amidst growing tension with the United States.
How has China supported Cuba in its energy crisis?
China has provided Cuba with $80 million in emergency funds, 60,000 tons of rice, photovoltaic systems, and 49 solar parks to aid in the energy crisis.
Why did the U.S. impose sanctions on Chinese companies related to Cuba?
The U.S. sanctioned Chinese companies CEIEC and Beijing H&C Technologies for supplying surveillance technology and military components to Cuba, viewed as a violation of sanctions under Executive Order 14404.