61 years have elapsed since the Cuban revolution was declared to be a socialist character and the Cuban people gained victory in the historic battle of Playa Girón to repel an armed invasion from the U.S. imperialists and their mercenaries.

When Cuba toppled the pro-U.S. dictatorial regime and established a revolutionary government at the end of 1950s, the U.S. regarded it as a thorn in the flesh. In mid-April, 1961, the U.S. committed a provocative act of launching indiscriminate bombing raids on several airports of Cuba.

During the participation in the ceremony of bidding farewell to the victims of the enemy’s air raid on April 16, 1961, Comrade Fidel Castro defined the character of the Cuban Revolution as socialism and made a strong appeal to the entire people to fight to defend the socialist revolution until the last drop of their blood, which is being carried out for the ordinary people who were once maltreated.

The U.S., with an eye to nipping the new-born Republic of Cuba in the bud, armed nearly 1,500 anti-revolutionists who fled from Cuba with the weapons of its make, and drove them as mercenaries to the armed invasion of Playa Girón on April 17, 1961.

Under the leadership of Comrade Fidel Castro, Cuban army, militia and people fought a life-and-death battle to defend the gains of revolution, upholding the militant slogan “Fatherland or death, we will win!”, and won a brilliant victory after driving back the U.S. imperialists and their mercenaries within 72 hours from the start of armed invasion.

The victory by the Cuban people in the battle of Playa Girón made the red flag of socialism and the banner of independence against imperialism fly high in the western hemisphere. It also gave a strong impetus to the Latin American people to the struggle for freedom and national independence.

More than 60 years have passed since the time when the socialist character of the Cuban revolution was declared, and when the tenacity, bravery and indomitable will of the Cuban people were demonstrated to the world in the battle of Playa Girón. But the Cuban people are still living and struggling with the same spirit of that day.

Recently, the U.S. is becoming much more vicious in its moves to stir an internal dispute in Cuba and bring down its socialism through its continued harsh sanctions of trampling underfoot the sovereignty of the Cuban people and their right to existence and development, and by instigating a handful of anti-revolutionists.

Today, under the uplifted slogan of “socialism or death, we will win!”, the Cuban people continue to gain continuous successes in their struggle to consolidate their socialist base under the leadership of the Party and government headed by Comrade Miguel Diaz-Canel even in the face of the ceaseless interference, blockade, threat and blackmail by the hostile forces.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel reaffirmed on several occasions his strong will to firmly safeguard the cause of socialism and inherit and develop it. And the Party and the government of Cuba are taking proactive measures to intensify the ideological education to arm the entire party members, working people and young people with socialist and anti-imperialist ideas and to develop national economy and stabilize and improve people’s livelihood.

Victory and glory will always await the Cuban people who are safeguarding the sovereignty and dignity of the country and the gains of the revolution, and moving forward steadily along the road of socialism by thwarting decisively the grave challenges at home and abroad.

We would always extend full support and solidarity to the righteous struggle of the Cuban people who are invariably upholding the banner of socialism.