China as well as Latin American and Caribbean countries celebrated?in Beijing?on Tuesday the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of diplomatic relations at a reception.

Addressing the reception, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said the past fifty years have witnessed significant progress in the ties between China as well as Latin American and Caribbean countries, citing deepening political mutual trust, win-win cooperation on all fronts and strengthened friendship between their people.

The People's Republic of China forged diplomatic ties with Cuba in Sept. 1960 at the ambassadorial level, heralding its relations with Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Yang said that the Chinese government values its ties with Latin American and Caribbean countries, cherishes the friendship of their people and is always devoted to boosting their friendly cooperation of mutual benefits.

China as well as Latin American and Caribbean countries, both as the developing countries, have common interests in achieving sustainable development, promoting world multi-polarization and jointly dealing with global challenges, Yang said.

Yang called on the two sides to work together to advance the comprehensive and cooperative partnership featuring equality, mutual benefit and common development.

Dean of the Diplomatic Corps of Latin American and Caribbean Countries in China, Guillermo Velez hailed the friendly cooperation between the nations in their region and China over the last fifty years.

Guillermo Velez, also Colombian ambassador to China, said that Latin American and Caribbean countries attach importance to relations with China and firmly believe in the development of bilateral ties featuring friendly political relations and robust pragmatic cooperation.

Almost 200 guests, including Chinese government officials, diplomats from the Latin American and Caribbean countries in China and personalities of various circles of the two sides, attended the reception.