Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Saturday named Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz as the country's first prime minister in decades.

Marrero was appointed on Saturday as Cuba's prime minister at the proposal of President Miguel Diaz-Canel and becomes the first official to hold the position in 43 years. He previously served as minister of tourism.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Sunday sent a congratulatory message to Manuel. In his message, Li said that China and Cuba have a deep-rooted traditional friendship and always respect, understand and support each other in the process of their respective national development and construction.

The premier added that China is willing to work with Cuba, taking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties next year as an opportunity, to enhance high-level exchanges and deepen practical cooperation in various fields so as to better benefit the two countries and peoples.

The position was abolished in 1976, but the Diaz-Canel administration reinstalled it in accordance with the new constitution.

The new prime minister, 56 years old, is an architect engineer and began his career in 1990 as an investor at the Gaviota Tourism Group in the eastern Holguin province.

In 2004 he was appointed minister of tourism, a position he has performed to date.

In his new position, Marrero will be accompanied by six deputy prime ministers, including Commander Ramiro Valdes, one of the historical leaders of the Cuban revolution and close collaborator of former presidents Fidel and Raul Castro.

The other deputy prime ministers are hitherto the vice presidents of the Council of Ministers or cabinet, Roberto Morales Ojeda, Ricardo Cabrisas, Ines Maria Chapman and Jose Luis Tapia.

The final member of the team is current Minister of Economy and Planning Alejandro Gil, who maintains that portfolio.

Marrero's appointment is considered another step in the generational replacement of the island's leadership since the founding fathers of the Cuban revolution are now aged 80 or older. 

(Input from Reuters, Xinhua)