Solidarity Archives - Friends of Socialist China

China extends support to bereaved parents of Iranian schoolgirls

Following the bestial war crime committed by the United States on February 28, when it murdered at least 175 civilians, the overwhelming majority of them young schoolgirls, in its missile attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in the southern Iranian town of Minab, the Red Cross Society of China has decided to provide the Red Crescent Society of Iran with US$200,000 in emergency humanitarian assistance as special funds to support the bereaved parents.

Announcing the measure at the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s March 13 press conference in Beijing, in response to a question from the Beijing Youth Daily, spokesperson Guo Jiakun added:

“China stands ready to continue providing necessary assistance to Iran in a humanitarian spirit to help the Iranian people get through this difficult time.”

Their exchange reads as follows:

Beijing Youth Daily: The US and Israel launched military strikes on Iran on February 28. Media reports say that air strikes on Shajarah Tayyebeh primary school in Iran’s Hormozgan province killed over 160 girls. Is China considering providing humanitarian assistance to Iran?

Guo Jiakun: China condemns all indiscriminate attacks against civilians and non-military targets. Attacks on schools and harm to the children, in particular, seriously violate the international humanitarian law and breach the fundamental principles of human conscience. We deeply mourn for the students from Shajarah Tayyebeh primary school in Iran’s Hormozgan province and extend sincere sympathies to their families. The Red Cross Society of China has decided to provide the Red Crescent Society of Iran with US$200,000 in emergency humanitarian assistance as special funds to support the bereaved parents. China stands ready to continue providing necessary assistance to Iran in a humanitarian spirit to help the Iranian people get through this difficult time.

The full press conference can be read here. A related report was carried by the Xinhua News Agency.

China invests in a bright future for Cuba

The Trump administration’s energy siege on Cuba – cutting off oil from Venezuela, threatening punitive tariffs on any country that dares sell fuel to the island – is designed to bring the Cuban Revolution to its knees. What it has produced instead is one of the fastest and most remarkable renewable energy transitions ever achieved by a developing country, carried out in close partnership with socialist China.

Facing blackouts lasting up to 20 hours a day, Cuba has responded not with capitulation but with transformation. In just twelve months, solar power’s share of Cuba’s electricity generation has tripled from 5.8 percent to over 20 percent, with 49 new solar parks now connected to the national grid. Wind energy, electric public transport and decentralised home solar systems are all expanding rapidly. The long-term goal is full energy sovereignty – complete independence from imported fossil fuels by 2050.

This article from Workers World surveys Cuba’s ongoing energy revolution, examining the extraordinary scope of China’s solidarity – from large-scale solar parks to individual kits for rural homes and maternity wards – and what it tells us about the real nature of the
China-Cuba relationship: not a relationship between patron and client, but a partnership between two socialist countries committed to each other’s development and determined to build a world beyond imperial domination.

Relations between the two countries continue to develop in all areas, with China providing emergency humanitarian aid in addition to its support in renewable energy. On 12 March, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla held a phone call with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in which the two highlighted the powerful links of friendship between the two socialist countries and reaffirmed their intention to continuing strengthening bilateral relations.

In a remarkable example of international solidarity, Cuba, with the aid of China, has more than tripled its solar power production — one of the fastest renewable energy transitions ever achieved by a developing country. China helped Cuba develop 49 new solar parks and committed to completing 92 solar parks by 2028. Cuba’s solar power production has jumped from 5.8% in early 2025 to over 20% of its total energy generation.

The goal is for Cuba to reduce reliance on foreign fuel, gain independence from the U.S. blockade and become completely carbon neutral by 2050.

In February of this year, solar energy accounted for 38% of electricity generation, during daytime hours. However, peak demand is from 7-8 p.m., and Cuba is unable to afford battery storage capacity — the most expensive component of a solar energy system. But China is racing to improve the technology, and “progress in recent months has been incredible,” according to Ember, a global energy think tank. Chinese battery exports last year hit a record high. (Washington Post, March 1)

In addition to large solar parks, China sent 10,000 solar panel kit systems for individual homes and public buildings; 5,000 systems for critical facilities, including maternity homes, nursing homes, emergency rooms and municipal radio stations; and 5,000 kits specifically for rural and “isolated” homes that are not connected to the national grid.

“If you install a 2kW system for these people there, so they can have a refrigerator, a fan, a television, their lives change completely, and then we contribute to preventing these people from migrating from their communities,” said Elena Maidelín Ortiz Fernández, head of the Electric Union’s installation project. (bellyofthebeastcuba.com, March 6)

Cuba is also boosting renewable energy production by restoring thermal generation capacity, production of crude oil and petroleum gas and increasing their natural gas supply. China has provided Cuba with wind turbines and helped with their installation and maintenance since 2018.

Xinhua News Agency reported that Cuba has four small experimental wind farms with a fifth on the way. They have generated enough energy to save Cuba 29,630 tons of petroleum oil and about 96,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) from being released into the atmosphere.

Socialist planning in energy technology

As an example of socialist planning, data is being gathered from Cuba’s experimental wind farms to determine which technology is the most feasible for each region in Cuba. Cuba’s largest wind farm being completed in La Tunas will contribute 1% of total energy production by 2028 and save 40,000 tons of fossil fuels. Cuba also plans on building another 12 wind farms along the northern central and eastern coasts.

In 2005, China sent the first electric bus to Havana. It was manufactured by Yutong, a leading global producer of electric buses. Between 2015 and 2017, China sent Cuba a fleet of electric vehicles. Since 2021, after escalating fuel shortages imposed by the U.S. blockade, Cuba increased the imports of Chinese electric scooters, tricycles and cars.

China continues to support Cuban public transport by supplying parts, components and equipment to rehabilitate the Yutong bus fleet. In a joint venture, Havana’s Caribbean Electric Vehicles (VEDCA) is assembling thousands of Chinese parts into Cuban EVs.

Dave Jones, an energy analyst with Ember, said that Cuba is in the middle of one of the most rapid solar revolutions anywhere and ahead of most countries, including the U.S., in the share of electricity generated by sun power.

Cuba’s goal is to have 26% to 37% renewable energy generation by 2030-2035. Cuban Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy said that with China’s help, the project represents “a joint commitment to energy sovereignty.” (socialistchina.org, Feb. 25)

Kim Jong Un says ties between China and DPRK will get closer advancing the common cause of socialism

General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) Kim Jong Un sent a reply message to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on March 9, thanking him for his message of greetings on his reelection at the recent Ninth Congress of the WPK.

Kim described Xi’s message as “an expression of support and encouragement to me and all our Party members”, adding:

“It is the unshakable stand of our Party and the government of the Republic to continue to consolidate and develop the traditional DPRK-China friendship in conformity with the requirements of the new era and the aspirations of the peoples of the two countries.

“I believe that the cooperation between the two parties and the two countries will get closer in the future on the road of advancing the common cause of socialism.”

At time of writing, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) has also reported similar reply messages from Kim to To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.

Meanwhile, on March 12, regular passenger train services were resumed between China and the DPRK.

Reporting this, China Daily noted that on March 10, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said that China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are friendly neighbours, and that maintaining regular passenger train operations is important for making travel between the two countries more convenient.

It added that according to China State Railway Group, international passenger train services between Beijing and Pyongyang will run four times a week in both directions — on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays — while services between Dandong in Liaoning province and Pyongyang will operate daily.

The Xinhua News Agency reported on the first service between Dandong and Pyongyang on March 12.

According to the report, Song Ping, a staff member with the Dandong exit-entry frontier inspection station, said authorities had introduced measures to ensure smooth clearance on the first day of operations. The inspection process for the entire train has been shortened to within 30 minutes.

Reporting the train’s arrival in Pyongyang, Xinhua said that the regular service would facilitate cross-border travel and boost economic, trade and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Regular passenger transport between China and the DPRK was suspended early in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Regular air links were restored in 2023.

The following articles were originally published by KCNA, China Daily and the Xinhua News Agency.

With Chinese support, Cuba triples solar power in one year

The following article, originally published in Microgrid Media (an independent news platform dedicated to covering the global shift toward renewable energy) details how, over the last 12 months alone, Cuba has managed to increase its solar-generated electricity from 5.8 percent to over 20 percent of total generation. “The Caribbean nation connected 49 new solar parks to its grid between early 2025 and early 2026, adding more than 1,000 megawatts of capacity with equipment and financing from China. The expansion represents one of the fastest renewable energy transitions ever achieved by a developing country.”

The author notes that China’s support has been indispensable to these efforts. “The rapid expansion would have been impossible without sustained support from Beijing. China committed to building 92 solar parks by 2028 with combined capacity of approximately 2,000 megawatts, nearly matching Cuba’s entire current fossil fuel generation capacity. Beyond large solar farms, China donated approximately 70 tons of power generator parts and committed to installing 10,000 photovoltaic systems for isolated homes and critical facilities including maternity wards and clinics.”

In the face of a cruel, criminal and escalating US energy blockade, Cuba’s rapid progress in solar power represents a substantial boost for defending the country’s sovereignty and its socialist development path. The article observes: “If Cuba sustains installation pace, achieves adequate battery storage, and maintains Chinese support through 2028, it could reach energy independence that renders oil blockades economically irrelevant.”

We have previously covered China’s support helping Cuba advance towards energy sovereignty and sustainability, as well as China’s recent emergency aid to the island.

Cuba has transformed its electricity system in just 12 months, increasing solar power from 5.8% to over 20% of total generation as the country races to escape dependence on oil imports now blocked by US sanctions.

The Caribbean nation connected 49 new solar parks to its grid between early 2025 and early 2026, adding more than 1,000 megawatts of capacity with equipment and financing from China. The expansion represents one of the fastest renewable energy transitions ever achieved by a developing country.

The dramatic shift comes as Cuba faces what officials call an “energy siege.” President Donald Trump signed an executive order in early 2026 threatening tariffs against any country providing oil to the island, cutting fuel imports by approximately 90 percent and triggering blackouts lasting up to 20 hours per day in some regions.

Xi Jinping greets Kim Jong Un’s re-election at WPK Congress

Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President, sent a message of greetings on February 23 to his Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) counterpart Kim Jong Un on his election as General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) during the WPK’s ninth congress.

Xi wrote that the re-election of Comrade Kim Jong Un as General Secretary of the WPK manifests the profound trust and wholehearted support accorded to him from the WPK, government, and the DPRK people. He further expressed the hope that under the strong leadership of the WPK Central Committee headed by Kim Jong Un, the WPK and the people of the DPRK will, taking the momentum of this congress, propel their socialist cause to unprecedented heights.

He added: “China and the DPRK are socialist friendly neighbours committed to mutual assistance and mutual support. To safeguard, solidify, and develop China-DPRK relations has always been the steadfast strategic policy of the Communist Party of the CPC and the Chinese government. In recent years, my multiple meetings with Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the WPK, have effectively steered the positive development of bilateral relations. Confronted with the accelerated global changes unseen in a century and an international landscape fraught with turmoil and uncertainty, I stand ready to collaborate closely with Kim Jong Un… This endeavour will not only advance the work of socialist construction of both nations but also deepen the bonds of friendship and enhance the well-being of our peoples, thereby contributing significantly to the peace, stability, development, and prosperity of the region and the world at large.”

The following articles were originally published on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry and by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Xi Jinping Sends a Congratulatory Message to Kim Jong Un on His Election as General Secretary of WPK

February 23 (MFA) – On February 23, 2026, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message to Kim Jong Un, extending warm congratulations on his election as General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) during the Ninth Congress of the WPK.

In his congratulatory message, Xi Jinping stated that since the Eighth Congress of the WPK, the WPK Central Committee headed by Kim Jong Un has united and led the people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in their dedicated endeavors, continuously achieving new triumphs in the cause of socialist construction of DPRK. The re-election of Comrade Kim Jong Un as General Secretary of the WPK manifests the profound trust and wholehearted support accorded to him from the WPK, government, and the DPRK people. The Ninth Congress of the WPK was held at a pivotal juncture when the WPK and the DPRK are poised to carry forward the past and usher in the future, and its successful convening assumes great significance. It is hoped that under the strong leadership of the WPK Central Committee headed by Kim Jong Un, the WPK and the people of the DPRK will, taking the momentum of this congress, propel their socialist cause to unprecedented heights.

Jim Lane, 1938-2026 – Lifelong Irish revolutionary and supporter of Mao Zedong

The struggle for national liberation and socialism in Ireland lost one of its great figures on February 16, 2026, with the passing of James Anthony Lane, universally known as Jim Lane, at the age of 88.

Born in Cork in 1938, Jim joined the Irish Republican Army (IRA), Sinn Féin and the Cork Volunteers’ Pipe Band in 1954. A key area of his early political work was in the city’s unemployed workers movement. He was an active participant in Operation Harvest, the 1956-62 IRA ‘border campaign’, being one of the first volunteers to be sent north to participate in the armed struggle.

Following the end of the border campaign, Jim was one of those who became disillusioned with the political evolution of the republican movement in that period. He became a leading figure in the Irish Revolutionary Forces and subsequently in Saor Éire. He was also instrumental in establishing the Cork Vietnamese Freedom Association in the 1960s, which became known in particular for demonstrating against the presence of a US warship in Cork Harbour, in defiance of Ireland’s supposed neutrality.

Jim was both an uncompromising Irish republican as well as an uncompromising Marxist. In the most bitter and difficult days of McCarthyite anti-communism and clerical reaction, he openly espoused his communist views and actively distributed the Marxist classics, the portraits of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin and Mao Zedong, and literature from socialist countries.

When the major split occurred in the international communist movement, Jim sided with the Communist Party of China and was a leading participant in attempts to form a Marxist-Leninist party in Ireland. When a key section of the anti-revisionist movement in Ireland adopted the anti-communist, pro-imperialist ‘two nations theory’, claiming that protestants in the north of Ireland constituted a separate nation distinct from the Irish people as a whole, Jim helped form the Cork Communist Organisation, which subsequently became the Cork Workers’ Club. The club’s Historic Reprints series played a key role in rediscovering and popularising some of the most important works of James Connolly, Jim Larkin and other Irish republican socialist classics. Their bookshop also distributed literature from socialist China and Albania.

With the revival of the armed liberation struggle in Ireland’s six occupied counties in the north east, when Derry’s Bogside came under siege, in what became known as the Battle of the Bogside, in 1969, Jim and his comrades brought arms and assistance, to the beleaguered nationalist community, working closely with the IRA, organisational and political differences notwithstanding.

CPC greets 9th congress of Workers’ Party of Korea

The Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) opened on February 19 in Pyongyang, capital of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

That day, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) sent a message of greetings to the congress, noting that the WPK is the strong leadership core of the DPRK’s revolutionary and construction undertakings. The party has long united and led the DPRK people in relentless progress, achieving significant accomplishments in advancing the DPRK’s socialist cause.

“We wish that, under the strong leadership of the WPK Central Committee with General Secretary Kim Jong Un at its helm, the DPRK people will continue to achieve new and greater accomplishments in their socialist construction,” it said.

It added that both China and the DPRK are socialist countries led by communist parties. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the top leaders of both parties and countries, China-DPRK relations have entered a new historical period. The CPC has always placed great importance on developing a friendly and cooperative relationship with the WPK, and is willing to strengthen communication and exchanges with the WPK, deepen the exchange of experience in party-building and state governance, jointly lead the healthy and stable development of China-DPRK relations, and promote the steady and far-reaching advancement of the socialist cause in both countries to contribute to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

We reprint below the reports on the message as released by the Xinhua News Agency and the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). We also carry the text of the opening address to the congress delivered by General Secretary Kim Jong Un as carried by KCNA.

CPC holds video talks with Sri Lanka’s JVP

Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (IDCPC), held a video meeting with Tilvin Silva, General Secretary of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) of Sri Lanka on February 13.

The JVP, or People’s Liberation Front, is Sri Lanka’s largest Marxist party and is currently the main governing party in the country at the head of an alliance of left and progressive forces.

Liu said that in January 2025, President Xi Jinping met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake who was visiting China. They reached important consensus on building a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future and deepening exchanges of governance experience between the two countries’ ruling parties. The CPC, he continued, stands ready to continue strengthening exchanges at all levels with the JVP, conduct in-depth theoretical discussions and experience sharing on such topics as party building, major national development strategies and sustainable development, and to promote practical cooperation and friendship between the two peoples.

Silva and other leading JVP members said that during their visit to China last year, they witnessed firsthand how the CPC has led the Chinese people to achieve remarkable development accomplishments and won people’s wholehearted support. As Marxist governing parties, the two parties share common goals and ideals. Learning from the CPC’s experience in state governance and administration is of vital importance to the JVP. In particular, China’s practices in comprehensively exercising rigorous governance over the party and pursuing a people-centred development philosophy have provided valuable reference for Sri Lanka. The JVP appreciates China’s valuable support and assistance and is willing to further strengthen inter-party exchanges with the CPC and deepen cooperation in such areas as cadre training, digital city development, poverty reduction and promoting national unity, so as to better serve national development and improve the well-being of the two peoples.

The following article was originally published on the website of the IDCPC.

Beijing, February 13th—Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), held here today a video meeting with Tilvin Silva, General Secretary of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) of Sri Lanka.

Liu said, in January 2025, President Xi Jinping met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake who was visiting China. They reached important consensus on building a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future and deepening exchanges of governance experience between the two countries’ ruling parties. The two leaders also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on exchanges and cooperation between the two Parties. Over the past year, the CPC and the JVP have carried out diverse and fruitful exchanges and cooperation through inter-party channels to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state. The CPC stands ready to continue strengthening exchanges at all levels with the JVP, conduct in-depth theoretical discussions and experience sharing on such topics as Party building, major national development strategies and sustainable development, promote practical cooperation and friendship between the two peoples through the “political parties plus” platform, deepen multilateral coordination, and advance greater development of relations between the two countries and Parties.

Silva and others said, during the visit to China last year, we witnessed firsthand how the CPC has led the Chinese people to achieve remarkable development accomplishments and won people’s wholehearted support. As Marxist governing parties, the two Parties share common goals and ideals. Learning from the CPC’s experience in state governance and administration is of vital importance to the JVP. In particular, China’s practices in formulating medium- and long-term plans, comprehensively exercising rigorous governance over the Party, and pursuing a people-centered development philosophy have provided valuable reference for Sri Lanka. We appreciate China’s valuable support and assistance. The JVP is willing to further strengthen inter-party exchanges with the CPC and deepen cooperation in such areas as cadre training, digital city development, poverty reduction and promoting national unity, so as to better serve national development and improve the well-being of the two peoples. The Sri Lankan side also wishes the Chinese people a happy Spring Festival of the Year of the Horse.

Sun Haiyan, Vice-minister of the IDCPC; Qi Zhenhong, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka; Bimal Rathnayake, Member of Political Bureau of the JVP, Head of the International Department, and Minister of Transport Highways and Urban Development, and Sunil Handunneththi, Member of the Political Bureau of the JVP and Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development of Sri Lanka; and others were present.

China and Vietnam exchange special envoys

Following the successful conclusion of its 14^th National Congress, the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has intensified its strategic coordination with its Chinese counterpart with an exchange of special envoys between the two parties.

First, Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (IDCPC), visited Vietnam as the Special Envoy of General Secretary Xi Jinping.

Liu met with To Lam, General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee, in Hanoi on January 30.

According to the website of the IDCPC, Liu delivered a congratulatory letter from General Secretary Xi Jinping to To Lam and conveyed Xi’s sincere greetings and best wishes to him. Liu said, China warmly congratulates Vietnam on the successful convening of the 14th National Congress of the CPV and Comrade To Lam on his re-election as General Secretary of the CPV. China is willing to work with Vietnam to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the general secretaries of the two Parties, adhere to the six overarching goals of “stronger political mutual trust, more substantive security cooperation, deeper practical cooperation, more solid popular foundation, closer coordination and collaboration on multilateral affairs, and better management and resolution of differences”, firmly safeguard the security of governance, intensify high-level exchanges, enhance political mutual trust, expand common interests, jointly uphold international justice, and promote the continuous development of the China-Vietnam community with a shared future.

The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) added that, welcoming the special envoy, General Secretary Lam emphasised that the visit carries profound political significance, reflecting the high priority, deep respect, and sincere friendship of the Chinese party, state, and people towards their Vietnamese counterparts, as well as the long-standing solidarity and close bonds between the two Communist Parties.

He appreciated the very positive outcomes of the phone talks with General Secretary and President Xi immediately after the CPV’s 14th National Congress, which created a favourable starting point for relations between the two Parties and countries in the new term and Vietnam’s new development era.

Sharing with the special envoy the important outcomes of the 14th National Party Congress, the party chief underscored that its success marked a turning point and a particularly important milestone determining Vietnam’s future development in the new era. The congress not only reviewed the past five years and summed up 40 years of renewal, set goals and tasks for the next five years, but also shaped strategic mindset, vision, and long-term development orientations toward the mid-21st century. Vietnam will continue to play an active and responsible role in maintaining peace, stability, and development in the region and the world, he stressed.

On the same day, Liu Haixing held the first meeting of the mechanism for meetings between the Minister of the IDCPC and the Secretary of the Party Committee of Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Le Hoai Trung, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPV, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam.

The IDCPC reported Liu as saying that the two sides should walk hand in hand on the path of socialist modernisation and jointly create a brighter future for China and Vietnam, contributing positive energy to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

For his part, Le Hoai Trung thanked Special Envoy Liu Haixing for coming to Vietnam to extend congratulations. He said, Vietnam and China are like-minded partners on the socialist path. Vietnam always regards its relations with China as an objective requirement, strategic choice and top priority of its foreign policy. The development of bilateral relations is of great strategic significance to the socialist cause of the two countries. Under the new circumstances, Vietnam is willing to work with China to strengthen high-level exchanges between the two parties, deepen exchanges and mutual learning of experience in state governance and administration, expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and jointly build a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

Roar, China! Langston Hughes in Shanghai

February is celebrated as Black History Month in a number of countries, including the United States and Canada, and February 1^st 2026 was the 125^th anniversary of the birth of Langston Hughes, the great African-American jazz poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist, who is widely considered to have been the key leader of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1930s.

Marking these anniversaries, the Historic Shanghai website, noting that the city “has a fascinating, hidden history of Black American poets, activists, and musicians” carried an article on the three months that Hughes spent there in the summer of 1933, during which he met with Soong Ching Ling, the widow of China’s first president Dr. Sun Yat-sen and later the Honorary President of the People’s Republic of China, as well as with the great revolutionary writer Lu Xun.

The article notes: “With barbed wire and guards separating the International Settlement and French Concession from the Chinese sections of Shanghai, and with American race laws (i.e. segregation) often applied in the International Settlement, the parallels between segregated Shanghai and segregated America were all too stark… As a Black American, Langston Hughes was not permitted to enter the Cathay Hotel or the Foreign YMCA, which he called the Whites’ YMCA.”

However, this was also “the era of Shanghai jazz, when Black Americans who had limited performing opportunities at home took their talent to the world, and Shanghai, said Hughes, ‘seemed to have a weakness for American Negro performers.’ There was the ‘sparkling’ Nora Holt at the Little Club, the radio singer Midge Williams, and Valaida Snow, who Louis Armstrong called the ‘second greatest trumpeter’ – after himself, of course!”

Chinese and Vietnamese leaders discuss after Vietnamese party congress

Following the 14^th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, held phone talks with To Lam, who was re-elected General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee at the first meeting of the incoming central committee immediately following the congress, on January 26.

According to the report published by the Xinhua News Agency, Xi expressed his congratulations over the successful convening of the 14^th congress and To Lam’s re-election as General Secretary of the CPV. He expressed his belief that under the leadership of the CPV Central Committee headed by To Lam, Vietnam will surely fulfill the goals and tasks set forth by the 14th National Congress and realise at an early date the two goals set for the centenary of the party (2030) and the country (2045) respectively.

Xi added that China and Vietnam should keep to their paths and not sway in their commitment, unite and cooperate to promote development, and work together towards a bright future. They should hold firm to their beliefs, uphold fundamental principles and break new ground, fend off and defuse various risks and challenges, jointly defend the cause of socialism, and preserve the political essence of China-Vietnam relations.

He also urged the two sides to strengthen coordination and collaboration in international and regional affairs, jointly oppose hegemonism and bloc confrontation, and work together to promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

For his part, To Lam expressed appreciation to the CPC Central Committee for the congratulatory message on the successful convening of the 14th National Congress of the CPV and thanked General Secretary Xi for the good wishes on his re-election as General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee.

He outlined the main outcomes of the congress and said that Vietnam is willing to work side by side with China on a new journey and steadily deepen friendly cooperation between neighbouring socialist countries.

Xi congratulates Vietnamese counterpart on re-election

Following the conclusion of the 14^th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), the first meeting of the newly elected Central Committee was held on the morning of January 23. The meeting unanimously re-elected To Lam to the position of General Secretary.

Extending congratulations to his Vietnamese counterpart, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that the successful convening of the 14th National Congress of the CPV has opened a new era in Vietnam’s national development, and will inspire and promote the development of the global socialist movement.

He described China and Vietnam as friendly socialist neighbours and as a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, adding that he attaches great importance to the relations between the two parties and countries, and is willing to work with To Lam to strengthen strategic communication, carry forward the traditional friendship, and firmly advance the socialist cause.

The following article was originally published by the Xinhua News Agency.

BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) — Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Friday congratulated To Lam on his election as general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee.

In his message, Xi said that since the 13th National Congress of the CPV, the party has steadfastly pursued a socialist modernization path that suits Vietnam’s national conditions, upheld and strengthened the party’s overall leadership, and united and led the Vietnamese people to achieve remarkable accomplishments in the cause of socialist construction and reform, hence a continuous boost in Vietnam’s international status and influence.

Xi Jinping approves new round of aid from the People’s Republic of China to Cuba

Following on from reports earlier this week about a new Chinese emergency aid program delivering 30,000 tons of rice to Cuba, China’s ambassador in Havana, Hua Xin, has announced a further set of assistance measures agreed by the Chinese government.

We republish below a report from the Cuban Communist Party (translated by The Left Chapter), which notes that the newly-announced aid package includes US$80 million in financial assistance and a donation of 60,000 tons of rice. The financial assistance is aimed specifically at helping Cuba to resolve its energy crisis – caused by the US’s illegal blockade on the island, and exacerbated by the reduced flow of oil from Venezuela following the US’s flagrantly illegal attack on that country.

The report is followed by an article in Brasil de Fato providing further information and noting that, while most of Cuba’s electricity is still generated from fossil fuels, “Chinese investment in renewables seeks to reduce dependence on imported fuels and strengthen the stability of the country’s electricity supply”.

Xi Jinping approves new round of aid from the People’s Republic of China to Cuba

January 21 (The Left Chapter) – The President of the People’s Republic of China and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Xi Jinping, approved a new round of aid to Cuba that includes emergency financial assistance valued at 80 million dollars for the acquisition of electrical equipment and other urgent needs that the country has, as well as a donation of 60,000 tons of rice.

The Chinese ambassador to Cuba, Hua Xin, reported this to Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and President of the Republic, during a meeting on Tuesday afternoon at the Palace of the Revolution.

Fatah delegation visits China

Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (IDCPC), met in Beijing on January 16 with a visiting delegation of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement Fatah led by Bassam Zakarneh, Member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council of Palestine and Fatah’s Deputy Minister of Arab Relations and Chinese Affairs.

Liu said that the CPC is willing to work with Fatah to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen political mutual trust, firmly support each other on issues involving respective core interests and major concerns, enhance experience exchange in state governance and administration and cooperation in areas such as youth and women, strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, and promote greater development of China-Palestine strategic partnership through inter-party channels.

Zakarneh said, Palestine spoke highly of the profound and enduring friendship between Palestine and China and sincerely thanks China for the long-term strong support and selfless assistance to the Palestinian people. Palestine will, as always, firmly support China’s core concerns and the cause of reunification.

The following article was originally published on the IDCPC website.

Liu Haixing Meets with a Fatah Delegation of Palestine

Beijing, January 16th (IDCPC) — Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), met here today with a delegation led by Bassam Zakarneh, Member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council of Palestine and Fatah’s Deputy Minister of Arab Relations and Chinese Affairs.

Liu said, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Mahmoud Abbas, China-Palestine relations have maintained good momentum of development. The CPC is willing to work with Fatah to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen political mutual trust, firmly support each other on issues involving respective core interests and major concerns, enhance experience exchange in state governance and administration and cooperation in areas such as youth and women, strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, and promote greater development of China-Palestine strategic partnership through inter-party channels. Liu also introduced the main achievements of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Zakarneh said, Palestine highly spoke of the profound and enduring friendship between Palestine and China and sincerely thanks China for the long-term strong support and selfless assistance to the Palestinian people. Palestine will, as always, firmly support China’s core concerns and the cause of reunification. Fatah pays close attention to the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development adopted at the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and is willing to further deepen exchanges and cooperation with the CPC, learn from China’s successful experiences in aspects such as comprehensively exercising rigorous governance over the Party, cultivation of cadres and economic development.

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.

Jin Xin, Assistant-minister of the IDCPC, Firas Shomaly, Member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council of Palestine, and Jawad Mohammed Qutish Awad, Palestinian Ambassador to China, and others, were present.

Special Envoy conveys Xi’s greetings to Lao party leader

The successful conclusion of the 12^th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) on January 8 has served as a spur to the further development of the socialist country’s fraternal relationship with neighbouring China.

A January 11 report published by the Xinhua News Agency noted that the congress had summarised Laos’ achievements over the past five years, charting the future direction of the country’s socialist development, and injecting new impetus into the advancement of China-Laos relations.

It added that: “The congress reviewed and adopted a series of key political documents, including the political report of the 11th Central Committee and the 10th Five-Year Plan for Socio-Economic Development (2026-2030). Under the plan, Laos aims to achieve an average annual economic growth rate of six percent during the 2026-2030 period.

“A key highlight of the congress was the adoption of the Party’s third political program, which clearly sets the goal of transforming the country into an upper-middle-income developing nation by 2055, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the LPRP.”

In this regard, the China-Laos Railway was frequently cited as a key driver of national development. However, besides transport infrastructure, “cooperation between the two countries has expanded across a wide range of sectors under the strategic guidance of senior leaders from both sides. Substantial progress has been made in energy, healthcare, poverty alleviation, and other key areas, further consolidating the China-Laos community with a shared future.”

Noting that the successful conclusion of the congress opens a new chapter in Laos’ socialist development and heralds fresh historical opportunities for advancing the China-Laos community with a shared future, the article said that Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the LPRP Central Committee and Lao President, stated that Laos stands ready to work with China to fully implement the action plan for building the China-Laos community with a shared future, strengthen unity and cooperation, jointly address risks and challenges arising from changes in the international and regional landscape, and safeguard the shared interests of both parties and countries.

And Chinese Ambassador to Laos Fang Hong reaffirmed China’s commitment to working closely with Laos to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two countries. She noted that the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Laos presents an opportunity to deepen exchanges on governance experience, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and promote the development of both countries’ socialist causes.

On January 13, Thongloun Sisoulith met in the Lao capital Vientiane with Liu Haixing, Special Envoy of General Secretary Xi Jinping and Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (IDCPC).

CPC greets Vietnamese party congress

The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) opened its 14^th National Congress in Hanoi on January 20.

In a message of greetings sent the same day, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said that the CPV is the strong leadership core of the Vietnamese people and the cause of socialism in Vietnam. Since the 13th National Congress of the CPV, the Central Committee of the CPV has united and led the Vietnamese people in making remarkable achievements in advancing socialist construction and reform.

It added that amid complex international situations, Vietnam has maintained political and social stability, experienced rapid and sustainable economic development, and seen its international status rise steadily. These accomplishments have demonstrated the advantages of the communist party leadership and the socialist system, and have made positive contributions to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and the world.

The message further emphasised that the CPC and the government of China attach great importance to developing the relations between the two parties and countries, and are willing to work together with the Vietnamese side to adhere to the principles of “long-term stability, future orientation, good-neighbourly friendship and all-round cooperation,” and the spirit of “good neighbours, good friends, good comrades, good partners,” to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries.

The following article was originally published by the Xinhua News Agency.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message on the convening of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

The CPV is the strong leadership core of the Vietnamese people and the cause of socialism in Vietnam. Since the 13th National Congress of the CPV, the Central Committee of the CPV has united and led the Vietnamese people in making remarkable achievements in advancing socialist construction and reform, read the message.

Amid complex international situations, Vietnam has maintained political and social stability, experienced rapid and sustainable economic development, and seen its international status rise steadily. These accomplishments have demonstrated the advantages of the communist party leadership and the socialist system, and have made positive contributions to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and the world, it said.

China delivers emergency rice aid to Cuba

A Chinese emergency aid program has delivered its first shipment of rice to Cuba, which is facing shortages as a result of the tightening US blockade on the island.

Under the new program, China will send 30,000 tons of rice. The first shipment was handed over on Monday 19 January.

At the handover ceremony – attended by Vice Prime Minister Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga, Minister of Domestic Trade Betsy Díaz Velázquez, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Déborah Rivas Saavedra and Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Hua Xin, among others – Ambassador Hua stated that “each grain of rice represents the unbreakable commitment of the Chinese people” to the island.

He continued:

We’re convinced that, with the joint effort of Cuba and China, no blockade will be able to turn off the light of hope, no difficulty will be able to block the path of progress.

Hua Xin added that China’s solidarity with Cuba “not only embodies the deep bonds of special friendship between both nations, but also demonstrates the unwavering commitment to remain united even in difficult times”.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez commented on X that the aid “is a sign of the close brotherhood and historical ties of friendship and solidarity that unite both nations”.

Daniel Lambert, manager of the Irish hip-hop group Kneecap, made an apposite comment on social media: “Due to crippling sanctions the USA has illegally placed on Cuba for 64 years its population struggles to now survive. Yesterday China sent 30,000 tons of rice to assist the Cuban people. As the US starves its neighbour a nation across the world tries to assist.”

We publish below reports from Xinhua Spanish and Prensa Latina. The Xinhua report has been translated by us.

China delivers first batch of emergency food aid to Cuba

HAVANA, Jan 19 (Xinhua) — On Monday, Cuba officially received the first batch of a donation of 30,000 tons of rice from China, sent as emergency aid to support efforts aimed at guaranteeing the food supply of the population of the Caribbean island.

At the handover ceremony, held at the Ministry of Domestic Trade in Havana, Cuban Deputy Prime Minister and Head of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Óscar Pérez-Oliva, thanked China for the donation, describing it as “a concrete expression of China’s exemplary, unconditional and selfless cooperation with Cuba”.

BK Basu – Indian doctor and internationalist in China

In the following article, which was originally published on the Indian website Scroll, Ajay Kamalakaran shares fascinating details regarding the five Indian doctors, particularly Dr. BK Basu, who served on the frontlines during the Chinese people’s war of resistance against Japanese aggression, providing critically needed medical care.

Prior to their August 1938 departure from Bombay (now Mumbai) they were cautioned by Indian independence movement leader Sarojini Naidu: “You are undertaking a dangerous task…some, or one of you, may not return.”

They were all aware of the risks, but as the 28-year-old Dr. Basu wrote, their anxieties were outweighed by the pride they felt in taking part in an act of “internationalism and anti-imperialism”.

Throughout a long voyage, the Indian doctors received an impressive welcome at each port of call.

In Colombo [Ceylon now Sri Lanka], an enthusiastic Chinese store owner took a photo with the group in front of his shop. In Penang [Malaya], a “welcoming mass of people”, predominantly overseas Chinese and Indians, garlanded the doctors.

“Singapore was much the same, with large crowds at the pier waving Indian and Chinese flags… In Hong Kong, too, they were greeted with cheers and applause.”

Reaching Guangzhou, then known as Canton, they were feted by Soong Ching-ling, the widow of Dr. Sun Yat Sen and later a Vice-President and finally the Honorary President of the People’s Republic of China.

Reaching Changsha, in Hunan province, “the spirit of international support was palpable… Volunteers from the United States, Europe, Russia and even Java joined a banquet hosted for the Indians by Ye Jianying, the chief of the Eight Route Army, the larger of the two communist forces that fought the Japanese. Among those at the banquet was the writer-journalist Agnes Smedley, an ardent supporter of Indian independence.” [An account of Smedley’s role in the fight for Indian independence may be read here.]

Basu developed a particularly close relationship with Dr. DK Kotnis, who was admitted to membership of the Communist Party of China and died of illness in 1942, aged just 32. “Together their efforts extended beyond treating the wounded. When crossing enemy lines, they would actively sabotage infrastructure used by the Japanese, including railway tracks.”

CPC greets Lao party congress

The 12th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) opened on January 6 in the capital Vientiane.

The congress is being held under the theme “Enhancing the Party’s Strong Leadership, Proactively Building an Independent and Self-Reliant Economy, Continuing to Consolidate the People’s Democratic Regime, and Advancing towards Socialism.”

In a congratulatory message, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) writes:

“As the strong leadership core of the Lao people and the socialist cause of Laos, since the 11th national congress of the party, the Central Committee of the LPRP, led by General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith, has been committed to promoting the party’s self-building, consolidated its leadership position, united and led the people of all ethnic groups in Laos, actively explored a socialist development path that suits the country’s national conditions, and achieved a series of important progress and results in the party and the country’s various undertakings.”

It adds that both China and Laos are socialist countries led by communist parties and the CPC and the Chinese government have always viewed and handled the relationship between the two parties and countries from a strategic and long-term perspective.

The following article was originally published by the Xinhua News Agency.

BEIJING, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) — The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) on the opening of its 12th National Congress.

As the strong leadership core of the Lao people and the socialist cause of Laos, the message said, since the 11th national congress of the party, the Central Committee of the LPRP, led by General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith, has been committed to promoting the party’s self-building, consolidated its leadership position, united and led the people of all ethnic groups in Laos, actively explored a socialist development path that suits the country’s national conditions, and achieved a series of important progress and results in the party and the country’s various undertakings.

In the message, the CPC Central Committee said it is sincerely pleased with these achievements and highly evaluates them.

The 12th congress is a milestone in the development process of Laos’ socialist cause, said the message, adding that it will review and approve the party’s third Political Programme and other important political documents, as well as make strategic plans and specific arrangements for the development of the party and the country’s various undertakings in the coming period.

It is believed that under the strong leadership of the LPRP, the Lao people will successfully achieve the goals and tasks set by the congress and advance Laos’ socialist cause to a new stage of development, it said.

Both China and Laos are socialist countries led by communist parties, it noted, adding that the CPC and the Chinese government have always viewed and handled the relationship between the two parties and countries from a strategic and long-term perspective.

In the current new situation, China is willing to work with Laos, following the important consensus of the highest leaders of both parties and countries as the fundamental guide, to strengthen strategic communication, deepen exchanges and cooperation, and steadily promote the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future, it said.

This will help push forward the continuous, sound and stable development of the China-Laos comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, benefit both countries and peoples, and make new positive contributions to world peace, development and progress, it said.

China and Vietnam successfully round off friendship year

China and Vietnam have successfully seen out 2025, designated as their Year of People-to-People Exchanges marking the 75^th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, with a varied series of activities.

Chinese and Vietnamese troops conducted a joint border patrol on December 25. Under the rotational mechanism, this joint patrol was chaired by the Chinese side. Both sides agreed to continue strengthening coordination mechanisms, jointly combating cross-border violations, promoting rapid handover mechanisms, ensuring a safe border environment, facilitating customs clearance at border gates, and enhancing friendship exchanges and cooperation.

On December 23, a special exhibition on President Ho Chi Minh in China opened at the Hongyan Revolutionary History Museum in Chongqing.

Held under the theme “The Revolutionary Path,” the exhibition is structured into four sections focusing on organisational building, the shared struggle against a common enemy and foreign aggression, mutual support, and the joint creation of a glorious chapter in history.

Featuring more than 230 historical photographs and valuable archival images, the exhibition vividly retraces President Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary life while reflecting a special and memorable period in Vietnam-China relations. During his revolutionary career, President Ho Chi Minh made many visits and spent much time in China, including an important period in Hongyan village in Chongqing, which housed the Southern Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the representative office of the Eighth Route Army in Chongqing.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Consul General in Chongqing Bui Nguyen Long underlined the exhibition’s special significance as it coincides with the 135th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh and the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-China diplomatic relations.

The exhibition, he said, will help the two peoples, particularly the younger generation, gain a deeper understanding of the heroic and illustrious chapters of Vietnam-China traditional friendship.

On the sidelines of the exhibition, the Hongyan Revolutionary History Museum, in coordination with the Vietnamese Consulate General in Chongqing, introduced a coffee product named “Comrades and Brothers.” Made from Vietnamese Robusta coffee beans sourced from Buon Ma Thuot and buffalo milk from China’s Guangxi region, the product aims to further spread the positive values of Vietnam-China relations among communities in western China.

In an interview published on December 24, Professor Wang Yong, Director of the Centre for International Political Economy at Peking University, said that Vietnam-China relations are maintaining strong and comprehensive momentum and have reached an “unprecedented height” while entering a new phase of development with prospects for broader and deeper cooperation.

Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in China, Wang said that since the start of 2025, the two countries have carried out a wide range of activities to mark the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, including the high-level visits and exchanges, as well as cooperation initiatives between the two sides’ ministries, sectors and localities. He noted that the high frequency of contacts at various levels reflects the strong impetus behind bilateral ties and demonstrates that overall relations are being promoted in a highly positive and substantive manner.

Looking ahead, Wang affirmed that Vietnam-China relations are entering what he described as a “golden period” of cooperation. He predicted that the two sides will continue to maintain high-level exchanges, expand partnerships in infrastructure, energy, innovation, and science and technology, while further promoting people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between localities.

On December 21, in Beijing, in an atmosphere imbued with warm friendship, the program, “Vietnam Culture Day in China” was held at the China National Opera House. This was the concluding event of a series of exchange activities marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-China diplomatic relations and the Vietnam-China People-to-People Exchange Year 2025. More than 1,000 people attended.