No matter how the international situation may change, China's policy of long-term friendship with Cuba will not change, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Monday.

Li made the remarks during his meeting with a delegation of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) led by Roberto Morales Ojeda, member of the Political Bureau and secretary of organization of the PCC Central Committee in Beijing.

Noting both China and Cuba are socialist countries and that China attaches great importance to the development of China-Cuba relations, Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said the two countries' leaders have jointly pointed out the direction for the development of relations between the two parties and the two countries.

China is willing to work with Cuba to faithfully implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries, deepen friendship, and expand mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation to further advance China-Cuba relations, Li stressed

"The determination to support Cuba in taking the socialist path will not change, and the direction of promoting pragmatic cooperation between China and Cuba will not change," said the Chinese premier.

He called for efforts to strengthen strategic coordination, firmly safeguard world peace, fairness and justice, practice multilateralism, deepen pragmatic cooperation in various fields, implement the plan for cooperation on Belt and Road, and constantly transform high-level political mutual trust into more pragmatic results.

China and Cuba should strengthen exchanges and mutual learning of modernization experiences, jointly explore the path to promoting modernization and continue to seek happiness for their peoples, Li added.

While appreciating China's unswerving support for Cuba in its cause of justice over the long term, Morales said the relationship between the two parties serves as a major cornerstone of bilateral ties. He said the PCC is willing to enhance inter-party exchanges, learn from China's experience in such fields as party building, reform and opening up and poverty eradication, facilitate pragmatic cooperation, and jointly promote the socialist cause and the development of Cuba-China relations.

Cuba firmly supports the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China, and is ready to shore up multilateral coordination with China to jointly promote world peace, development and justice, Morales added.

Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, also met with Morales on Monday 

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said China-Cuba relations are an excellent example of solidarity and cooperation between socialist countries and sincere mutual assistance between developing countries. 

China supports Cuba in defending national sovereignty and dignity as well as safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests, and is willing to strengthen cooperation with Cuba in international affairs and uphold global fairness and justice, Wang added. 

Morales told Wang that the PCC would strengthen strategic communication with the CPC, constantly expand cooperation in various fields, and encourage the development of relations between Cuba and China and Latin America and China. 

(With input from Xinhua)