Chinese Air Force representatives visit Cuban veteran pilots in Havana

A gathering was held in Havana, Cuba on Friday, bringing together representatives of the Chinese Air Force and over 10 retired Cuban pilots who received training in China.

The event was attended by the Chinese ambassador to Cuba, the commander of the Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force, and other guests.

In the conference hall of the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces' foreign affairs bureau, the Chinese Air Force delegation met with Cuban veteran pilots.

"I think the best thing that has happened to us is the full, selfless and united training we received from this great country China. [switch to Chinese] Long live, the Communist Party of China and the Communist Party of Cuba! Thank you!" said Henry Perez, one of the Cuban pilots.

At the event, senior colonel Li Hongpeng, representing the Chinese Air Force, read out a handwritten letter from Chinese instructors who had trained the Cuban pilots flight skills.

Some Chinese instructors who participated in teaching or translation work extended their greetings to the Cuban pilots via video link.

The Chinese Air Force prepared gifts such as calligraphy works and framed photos for the Cuban pilots.

Mario Rodriguez Penaranda, commander of the Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force, and Hua Xin, Chinese Ambassador to Cuba, delivered speeches at the event, recalling the friendship the two sides have forged.

"In the first years after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the support provided by the Chinese brothers for the training of our military personnel and the strengthening of our defensive capacity was decisive," said Rodriguez.

"The Chinese Air Force traveled all the way to visit Cuban veteran pilots who had trained in China, bringing both sides together for a reunion of special significance. This moment represents a teacher-student bond that has spanned half a century, an unbreakable fellowship, and enduring comradeship!" said Hua.

In 1961, 223 young Cubans were selected and sent to China to learn piloting and aircraft repair skills.

After completing their studies, they returned to their country in 1963 and became the backbone of the Cuban Air Force.

Chinese Air Force representatives visit Cuban veteran pilots in Havana

The 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting concluded in east China's Suzhou on Saturday, yielding fruitful results and laying significant groundwork for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November.

The trade ministers' meeting focused on "building an open and predictable regional and multilateral economic and trade order" and "fostering new engines of innovative and dynamic trade and investment cooperation."

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao briefed the media on the meeting's outcomes at a press conference.

Wang said the meeting issued a joint statement titled the Suzhou Statement, and approved the latest edition of the APEC Roadmap for Innovative, Competitive and Resilient Services.

All parties agreed to advance policy innovation and reform in services trade, build an open and predictable investment environment, improve regional trade facilitation and supply chain resilience, strengthen standards coordination, and enhance intellectual property protection, Wang told the media.

He also said that substantial progress was made on a framework document for regional digital trade cooperation and the ministers emphasized promoting inclusive AI development, strengthening AI-related trade, and bridging the digital divide to ensure shared benefits from digital transformation.

The minister noted that the outcomes of the meeting demonstrated strong cooperation willingness, highlighted an innovation-oriented approach, and reflected inclusiveness and shared benefits. "The fact that Asia-Pacific economies can come together, uphold the original aspiration of promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation while supporting economic growth and prosperity, and engage in in-depth discussions on the important issue of 'where multilateral and regional economic and trade cooperation is headed,' fully demonstrates that open regionalism and true multilateralism enjoy broad support, and that mutual success and shared development serve the fundamental interests of all economies," Wang said.

2026 APEC trade ministers' meeting concludes with fruitful results