Sinomach Chairman Zhang Xiaolun (R) is shown with Cuban Ambassador to China Carlos Miguel Pereira on March 9. [Photo/Sinomach]

Zhang Xiaolun, chairman of Sinomach, met on March 9 with Carlos Miguel Pereira, Cuba's ambassador to China, at the embassy of Cuba in Beijing. They probed further deepening of economic and trade cooperation.

Pereira expressed his gratitude to Sinomach for its long-term support and contribution to Cuba's economic and social development and briefed about Cuba's latest economic policies.

He said that he hopes that Sinomach will continue to take an active part in Cuba's future economic construction, and that the two sides will further build on the traditional friendship and cement and expand cooperation despite the fluctuating international situation.

Cuba was the first country in the Western Hemisphere to establish relations with China, and the friendship between the two countries has withstood severe challenges and enjoyed a firm basis.

China and Cuba have achieved very positive results in energy cooperation in recent years. In terms of traditional energy, Chinese companies have carried out related cooperation projects in Cuba. In the new energy sector, including wind and solar power, cooperation has been enhanced.

Zhang noted that Sinomach, as one of the earliest Chinese enterprises to enter Cuba, has developed its business and built up a significant market size and influence in the country through years of effort. He also thanked the Cuban government and people for their support for the company's long-term development in Cuba.

Hailing Ambassador Pereira for having made significant progress in helping clear up a historical discrepancy and strengthening economic and trade cooperation, Zhang expressed his hope that both sides will further build mutual trust, explore deeper cooperation in more areas, and contribute to lifting China-Cuba relations to a higher level.

China and Cuba have signed a cooperation plan to promote construction of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, injecting momentum for further collaboration by leveraging the complementary advantages of both parties, and to expand involvement of China with Latin America.