On July 6, 2012, Vice President Xi Jinping met with visiting President of Cuba's Council of State and the Council of Ministers Raul Castro Ruz at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

Xi reviewed his visit to Cuba last June, during which he was warmly received by the Cuban side and keenly felt the importance the Cuban side attaches to ties with China as well as the "brotherly friendship" between the two peoples. Over the past year, China-Cuba relations have achieved positive progress. He said the party and government of China attached importance to the bilateral relations and were satisfied with their sound development momentum. The vice president added that the Chinese side will stick to its long-term friendly policy towards Cuba and support the Cuban people to maintain national sovereignty and explore a development path in accordance with its situation. He believed that the Cuban people will make greater achievements in the nation-building process.

In face of the current complicated and changing international situation, to consolidate and deepen China-Cuba friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, Xi said. The Chinese side is willing to work together with Cuba to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, continue to maintain high-level exchanges and focus on advancing cooperation in economy, energy, agriculture, science and technology. He also called on the two countries to seek closer cooperation in international affairs, strengthen the unity of developing countries, and contribute to world peace and prosperity.

Raul Castro said he was satisfied with his successful visit to China and China-Cuba relations have entered a new stage of mature development. Cuba admires China's development achievements and is willing to learn from China's development experience, expand mutually beneficial cooperation with China on trade, investment, agriculture, science and technology and push bilateral relations to achieve more fruitful results. He said Cuba attaches high importance to China's important role in international and regional issues. Cuba will make positive efforts to further push forward relations between Latin America and China, he added.