On the afternoon of September 24, 2016 local time, at the invitation of President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers Raul Castro Ruz of Cuba, Premier Li Keqiang started his official visit to Cuba after arriving at Jose Marti International Airport in Havana by special plane. Mme. Cheng Hong, wife of Premier Li Keqiang arrived by the same plane.

First Vice-president of the Council of State and Council of Ministers Miguel Diaz-Canel of Cuba, other senior government officials as well as H.E. Zhang Tuo, Chinese Ambassador to Cuba greeted them at the airport.

Li Keqiang expressed that although China and Cuba are geographically far apart, hearts of the two peoples are close. This is the first official visit to Cuba of a Chinese Premier since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 56 years ago. During the visit, I hope to, together with the Cuban side, deepen traditional friendship, enhance practical cooperation, intensify people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and work together to overcome difficulties at key phases of respective development, so as to maintain the development of China-Cuba relations at a higher-level.

During his visit to Cuba, Li Keqiang will hold talks with President Raul Castro Ruz, visit Comrade Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz and jointly attend China-Cuba friendly exchange activities on people-to-people and cultural engagement with Cuban leaders. The two countries will sign nearly 30 inter-governmental agreements and business contracts in such areas as economy, technology, finance, production capacity cooperation, information communication, new energy, inspection and quarantine.

Li Keqiang and his wife Mme. Cheng Hong arrived in Havana after successfully concluding their official visits to Canada. When leaving Montreal, senior Canadian government officials including Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard, as well as H.E. Luo Zhaohui, Chinese Ambassador to Canada saw them off at the airport.