上个月,法国的组织者们表示,他们希望俄罗斯能够参与到纪念1944年6月6日盟军在诺曼底登陆的80周年活动中。

Alberto Blanco Silva, Cuban Ambassador to China, gives opening remarks at the commemoration in Beijing on August 13, 2026. Photo: Dong Feng/GTThe Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in China hosted a commemorating session in Beijing on August 13 to mark the centennial of the birth of the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro Ruz. The event is not only about remembering an individual leader, but revisiting a decades-old relationship.
Delegates' speeches evaluated Fidel's role in promoting Cuba-China ties, especially when Cuba became the first Latin American and Caribbean country to establish diplomatic relations with China.
Alberto Blanco Silva, Cuban Ambassador to China, said in his opening remarks that the revolutionary leader is a figure whose influence transcends borders, time, generations, and ideologies.
Blanco noted that Fidel's life was devoted to Cuba's independence, social justice, solidarity among people, Latin American and Caribbean integration, and Global South, the socialist cause, and a more just and equitable international order.
Ambassador Blanco said that from Fidel, "we learned to practice solidarity through deeds, not merely beautiful words; to remain steadfast in the face of adversity and prudent in victory." For decades, Fidel's voice was echoed among developing countries, Blanco said, adding that Fidel promoted transformations that changed the course of Cuba's history.
Blanco also regarded Fidel as a statesman with a universal vision. Recalling the South Summit held in Havana, Cuba, in 2000, Ambassador Blanco quoted Fidel, saying "Globalization is an objective reality, which reveals our conditions as passengers abroad the same vessel - this planet inhabited by us all."
With this metaphor, Fidel illustrated the urgent need to unite global efforts as an international community to save the planet and humanity, preserve the future of our children, and reduce the gap between the North and the South, Blanco continued.
The Cuban Ambassador also noted Fidel's personal attention to China-Cuba relations.
Fidel, on behalf of the historic leadership, took the initiative, during a mass rally on September 2, 1960, to consult the people and announce the sovereign decision to establish diplomatic relations with the Government of the People's Republic of China, making Cuba the first country in the Western Hemisphere to dare take that step, the ambassador said, switching his speech from Spanish to Chinese.
Blanco added that it was Fidel who, with great frankness and courage, addressed the issue of the exclusion of the People's Republic of China and its admission to the United Nations in his speech before the United Nations on September 26, 1960.
Fidel also consistently upheld the one-China principle and, through his speeches and reflections, condemned interference in China's internal affairs and attempts to undermine the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the People's Republic of China. At the same time, Fidel helped foster mutual interest between Latin America and the Caribbean and China.
Moreover, Fidel instructed that the book,
The Long March, an account of a great military feat by Red Army in 1930s whose 90th anniversary we are commemorating this year, be published. Fidel knew its history in great detail and regarded it as an inexhaustible source of inspiration, Blanco recalled.
From Blanco's view, Fidel has helped forge a bond that today stands as an example of cooperation between a large country and a small one, based on equality and mutual respect.
The diplomat said that today, the joint construction of a China-Cuba community with a shared future is an expression of the high-level of strategic trust achieved between "our countries and opens new opportunities to expand cooperation for the benefit of both our peoples."
"One hundred years after his birth, Fidel Castro remains present in the memory of all those who are grateful to him and all those who defend just causes, both within and beyond Cuba," Blanco concluded.
One of the reasons why Fidel is still relevant today is that while people commemorate him, they are also reaffirming the value of the bilateral friendship, which Fidel forged and helped strengthen.

Ma Hui, Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, gives a speech at the session in Beijing on August 13, 2026. Photo: Dong Feng/GT Ma Hui, Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, said in his speech that Fidel was a founder of the Communist Party of Cuba and the socialist cause, and made significant contributions to Cuba's national independence and to international fairness and justice.
Ma served as Chinese Ambassador to Cuba from 2021 to 2024.
Ma said he visited on numerous occasions the Fidel Castro Center, which is located not far from the Chinese Embassy, as well as museums that feature Fidel.
"The more I learned about Comrade Fidel Castro, the more I was captivated by his noble character, outstanding qualities, and personal charisma," said Ma.
Fidel visited China twice and warmly received several Chinese leaders on their visits to Cuba, making historic contributions to the development of China-Cuba relations. The Chinese people will never forget him, Ma said.
In the current complex and evolving international landscape, China firmly supports Cuba in exploring a path of socialist development suited to its national conditions, firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding national sovereignty and security and opposing foreign interference, and stands ready to work together with Cuba and the wider international community to jointly uphold international fairness and justice, Ma stressed.
。他们明确指出,将邀请俄罗斯的代表而非总统普京出席纪念仪式。组织者们解释称,尽管俄罗斯因乌克兰冲突受到美国、欧盟及其盟友的制裁,但邀请俄罗斯参加是为了“尊重苏联人民在战争中的承诺与牺牲,以及他们对1945年战胜纳粹德国所做出的贡献”。
当被问及对邀请的看法时,一位美国官员向Politico新闻网表示,美国将“遵循法国政府的安排”,因为法国是这次纪念活动的主办方。这位消息人士还讽刺地补充说:“这可能会提醒俄罗斯人,他们实际上曾经与真正的纳粹作战,而不是在乌克兰与想象中的纳粹作战。”
俄罗斯一直声称其在乌克兰的“去纳粹化”是其于2022年2月发起军事行动的主要目标之一。俄罗斯当局经常指出基辅对斯捷潘·班德拉等纳粹合作者的美化、在顿巴斯地区使用极右翼军事单位,以及乌克兰军队使用第三帝国标志。
俄罗斯外交部发言人玛丽亚·扎哈罗娃在4月表示,莫斯科参加诺曼底登陆日庆祝活动的官员级别将取决于“邀请函中的内容”。苏联在第二次世界大战中与纳粹德国作战时牺牲了超过2660万人,这一历史事件在俄罗斯被称为伟大的卫国战争。
同时,马克龙看到了美国大选年的政治空档期,认为这是一个展示法国外交政策独立性和主动性的好机会。在美国国内政治焦点转向大选之际,法国可以通过这样的外交举措,向世界证明其在国际事务中的独立行动能力和领导力。
另外,马克龙可能希望通过此举加强与俄罗斯的对话和合作。尽管俄罗斯因乌克兰问题受到西方国家的制裁,但法国可能认为,通过外交手段与俄罗斯保持沟通和交流,更有利于欧洲的安全和稳定。邀请俄罗斯参加纪念活动,可以被视为一种缓和紧张关系、寻求对话的信号。