A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called on the United States to repeal its policies of embargo against Cuba at an early date and develop normal state-to-state relations with Cuba.
Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, made the appeal ahead of a UN General Assembly vote on a resolution urging an end to U.S. embargo on Cuba.
The General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to adopt the resolution with the United States abstaining for the first time in 25 years.
It is the 25th time that the UN General Assembly has adopted such a resolution. This year, there is a change in vote of the United States since it voted against in the past 24 votes.
"China has noticed the measures taken by the United States to ease the limits regarding Cuba in commerce, trade and tourism and hopes that the United States and Cuba continue to work towards the normalization of their relations," said Liu.
Liu said in current world, countries should work on the basis of equality and seek common development through win-win cooperation.
"Under such circumstances, the United States should immediately end its economic embargo and sanctions on Cuba," he added.
Washington decreed the blockade against Havana officially on Feb. 3, 1962, following the intensification of the political differences that emerged between the U.S. and the fledgling socialist government led by Fidel Castro.
Full diplomatic ties were restored between the United States and Cuba as an agreement to resume normal relations took effect on July 20, 2015. However, the United States has not repealed the embargo yet.
Liu said China always stands for respect for the right of countries to freely choose their social systems and paths towards development, and China opposes unilateral sanctions against other countries by military, political, economic or any other means.
"We hope that the United States will comprehensively repeal its policies of embargo against Cuba at an early date and develop normal state-to-state relations with Cuba in accordance with the purposes of United Nations Charter and basic norms governing international relations," he added.
