As the Communist Party of China marks its 105th founding anniversary, Cuba's ambassador said China's development has not only validated its own path of modernization, but also anchored a unique, history-defying bond that bridges continents and generations.

Alberto Blanco Silva extended his warmest congratulations to the CPC and the Chinese people, hailing a comradely spirit that has withstood decades of international turbulence.

Having first arrived in China in the mid-1980s, shortly after joining the Communist Party of Cuba, Blanco said he has watched the country's transformation over four decades.

"Without the CPC, there would be no New China," he said. "It proves the success of socialism."

From major cities to rural communities in various Chinese provinces, Blanco sensed that people "have a strong sense of happiness and fulfillment".

He attributed the achievements to the CPC's ability to uphold policy continuity while constantly adapting through theoretical and practical innovation.

In his view, China's modernization has not only improved the lives of its own people but also created opportunities shared with other developing countries and the Global South.

Describing bilateral bonds as "brotherly", the veteran diplomat highlighted a threefold paradigm: equality between nations of different sizes, solidarity between socialist states, and cooperation between China and a Latin American country that has maintained diplomatic ties since 1960.

He believes those principles are not merely in official documents but have been forged through generations of people-to-people exchanges.

Recalling the history of the first Chinese immigrants in Cuba in 1847, Blanco spoke highly of their arduous fight alongside Cubans during the country's wars of independence.

"Not a single Chinese Cuban was a deserter, and not a single one was a traitor," he said, citing the words inscribed on the iconic monument in Havana dedicated to their honor.

Now, he added, Chinese culture has become an integral component of Cuban identity.

Solidarity remains vivid

Such solidarity remains vivid in recent memory. After the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan province, Cuban medical teams rushed to China to assist in rescue efforts despite language barriers.

Many of the interpreters who accompanied them were Chinese students who had studied medicine in Cuba, illustrating how educational exchanges had evolved into a bridge connecting the two peoples during times of crisis, Blanco said.

Education has been one of the cornerstones of bilateral cooperation, he said. Cuba has been welcoming Chinese students, and vice versa.

Between 2006 and 2016, more than 3,000 Chinese students received training in Cuba in fields including medicine, tourism and language studies, he said.

Currently, the vast geographic distance between the two nations is shorter thanks to direct flights, turning the ancient Chinese idiom, "a bosom friend afar brings a distant land near", into a daily reality. With the visa waiver policy, Blanco expects growing exchanges in culture and among young people.

Deeper cooperation in biotechnology, renewable energy and agriculture remains crucial as Cuba continues to withstand the impact of the decades-long United States embargo. China's steadfast support has shown that Cuba "never stood alone", he said.

With 2026 also marking the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March of the CPC-led Red Army, Blanco said the endurance and resilience exhibited during that historic journey continue to inspire countries today.

For him, that spirit remains relevant not only to China's future, but also to developing countries seeking their own paths to modernization.

"Our shared history, mutual solidarity and common goals demonstrate an infinite strength," Blanco said. "Together, we are proving the vitality of the socialist cause."

Liu Tianyun contributed to this story.