Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, February 28th. On the evening of February 28th, 2020, President Xi Jinping spoke with Cuban President Dias Carnell by phone.
Xi Jinping pointed out that after the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, Raul's first secretary and you called me to express my condolences as soon as possible. You also made a special trip to the Chinese embassy in Cuba to express support for China, which fully reflects the profound traditional friendship between China and Cuba. The Cuban side insists on maintaining the normal exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in accordance with WHO's professional opinions. This is respect and cooperation with China's prevention and control work. China highly appreciates Cuba's and your understanding and support of China's anti-epidemic efforts.
Xi Jinping emphasized that after the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, I personally directed the deployment, and the whole country was united and united as one, and the most comprehensive, strictest, and most thorough prevention and control measures were taken. We put forward the requirements for early detection, early reporting, early isolation, and early treatment, as well as the requirements for centralized treatment of patients, experts, resources, and treatment, and we have focused on increasing the rate of treatment and cure, reducing the rate of infection and mortality. Grab the task. After hard work, the current situation of epidemic prevention and control is expanding. We are fully confident, capable, and confident to win this fight against epidemic prevention and control.
Xi Jinping emphasized that in this epidemic prevention and control struggle, we always adhere to the concept of a community of shared future for mankind, share information with WHO and the international community in a timely, open, transparent, and responsible manner, actively respond to the concerns of all parties, and strengthen international cooperation. And strive to prevent the spread of the epidemic in the world. We have also taken strong measures to ensure the health and safety of people from all countries in China, including Cuban citizens. China's prevention and control work has been positively evaluated by WHO and the international community. China is willing to continue its cooperation with Cuba in the fields of medicine and epidemic prevention and control.
Xi Jinping pointed out that the Chinese nation has experienced hardships but has never been crushed. The impact of the epidemic on China's economy is short-term, and the fundamentals of China's long-term positive economy have not changed. We make overall plans to promote epidemic prevention and control, and economic and social development. While implementing the detailed prevention and control work, we have adopted a series of policy measures to gradually restore order in production and living, and work hard to ensure the realization of this year's economic and social development goals and tasks. We have full confidence in this.
Xi Jinping emphasized that China and Cuba are good friends, good comrades, and good brothers who live together and depend on each other. China-Cuba relations have been tested by various strong winds and waves, and they have lasted forever and are vibrant. The Communist Party of China and the Chinese government will, as always, support the Cuban side in taking a socialist road that is in line with its national conditions, support Cuba's just struggle to defend national sovereignty, and oppose external interference, and are willing to continue to provide the Cuban side with support and help within its ability. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cuba, and we are willing to work with Cuba to organize related celebrations and use this as an opportunity to summarize the successful experience of the development of bilateral relations and push the exchanges and cooperation in various fields to a new level at a new historical starting point.
Dias-Carnell said that Cuba highly appreciates and firmly supports China's efforts to fight the epidemic, and thanks China for its help and care to Cuban citizens in China. The Chinese side has faced the severe epidemic challenge, united the whole country as a whole, quickly adopted effective measures, and gradually achieved positive results, fully demonstrated its strong organizational mobilization ability, and demonstrated the huge advantages of the socialist system. China's timely and effective response has made outstanding contributions to preventing the spread of the epidemic worldwide, which has been highly appreciated by the international community including the United Nations and WHO. It is believed that under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, relying on China's strong comprehensive national strength and its accumulated experience in fighting the SARS epidemic in 2003, China will be able to completely overcome the epidemic. The Cuban side will stand firmly with the Chinese side at this difficult time and is ready to provide the Chinese brothers with all the help they can at any time. The Cuban side sincerely thanks China for its long-term support to the just cause of Cuba and its assistance to the development and construction of Cuba. It is willing to continue to consolidate the traditional friendship between Cuba and China, and to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and China as an opportunity to expand and deepen pragmatic cooperation in various fields and promote bilateral relations Greater development will benefit the two peoples.