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Invited by the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples and the Cuba-China Friendship Association， a CPAFFC delegation headed by Zhang Enxiang， vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Jilin Provincial People’s Congress and honorary president of the Jilin Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries， paid a friendly visit to Cuba from May 29 to June 3， during which it participated in the celebrations of the 160th anniversary of the Chinese arrival in Cuba.

On the occasion of the Chinese arrival in Cuba 160 years ago， the House of Chinese Arts and Traditions and the Centre of Studies on the China Immigration in Cuba of the University of Havana co-sponsored the 10th Overseas Chinese Festival and a series of celebration activities. At a symposium held on May 31， Zhang Enxiang， leader of the delegation， Gen. Moises Sio Wong， president of the Cuba-China Friendship Association， among others， spoke， recalling the history of the Chinese since they arrived in Cuba and the contributions they have made to the Cuban Society. Zhang Enxiang stressed， in the past years， the Chinese worked together with the Cuban people to create social wealth and waged struggles against slavery， oppression and colonial rule. They have made due contributions to the economic development， social progress and independence of Cuba. Just as what is inscribed on the Monument in Memory of the Chinese Who Fought for the Independence of Cuba erected in downtown Havana， which reads: In Cuba not a single Chinese was a deserter， not a single Chinese a traitor. The delegation also attended the ceremony of the first issuance of the commemorative stamps for the 160th anniversary of the Chinese arrival in Cuba held by the Cuban Ministry of Post.

On June 3， the CPAFFC delegation and representatives of various circles of Cuba gathered at the Regla Port in Havana， where the first batch of Chinese labourers landed in Cuba 160 years ago. Through the hard work of 160 years， the Chinese have taken roots in Cuba， merged into the Cuban society and become members of the Cuban people and an inseparable part of the Cuban history.

The delegation was present at the premiere of the documentary film The Thriving Fame on Roots made by Chinese Cuban director Angel Ma Argudin， visited the exhibition of plastic arts by artists of Chinese descent and the exhibition of Chinese and Cuban cuisine， and attended the 10th Overseas Chinese Festival Closing Cultural Gala at the Antonio Maceo Theatre.

The sincerity of the Cuban people left a deep impression on the members of the delegation. Buenaventura Reyes， vice president of CCFA， said， he was proud of a quarter of the blood flowing in his veins being Chinese. Through the one-week visit， the members of the delegation deeply felt the friendship the Cuban people cherished for the Chinese people and the Chinese-Cubans fully displayed Chinese spirit. On June 3， 1847， the brigantine Oquendo loaded with goods and Chinese labourers that set sail in Xiamen， China arrived at the Regla Port in Havana， Cuba， marking the beginning of the Chinese establishing themselves in this Caribbean country. In 1868， the war for independence broke out in Cuba， which brought hopes to the Chinese labourers. Hundreds of thousands of Chinese fought bravely at the forefront. Since then， they have taken part in all the struggles for the independence of Cuba. After years of hard work， the Chinese now have already merged into the Cuban society and live in harmony with the Cuban people. The China Town in Havana has grown in scale， where one can find all kinds of shops， restaurants and recreational facilities. It has become one of the most bustling areas of the city.