China urges U.S. to lift blockade, sanctions against Cuba

BEIJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- China urges the United States to heed the call of the international community, immediately lift its blockade and sanctions against Cuba, and remove Cuba from its "state sponsors of terrorism" list, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Friday.

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday adopted a draft resolution urging the United States to end its economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba. The draft resolution was passed by a vote of 165 in favor and seven against, with 12 abstentions. The United States was among the seven countries to vote against the motion.

For over six decades, the United States has been implementing a brutal blockade and illegal sanctions against Cuba, which seriously violate basic international norms, including the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, Guo said at a regular news briefing.

The blockade and sanctions have severely infringed on Cuba's right to subsistence and development, and wreaked havoc on the Cuban people, he said.

The passage of the draft resolution once again demonstrates the international community's sweeping support of the Cuban people in safeguarding their national sovereignty and opposing foreign interference and the blockade, and proves that unilateralism and bullying win little support, Guo said.

At the UNGA, China has voted in favor of resolutions condemning the United States' anti-Cuba actions for 33 consecutive years. China will continue supporting the Cuban people to oppose external interference and the blockade and to follow a development path suited to their national conditions, the spokesperson said. ■