Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on April 20, 2018

问：4月19日，古巴新一届全国人民政权代表大会正式选举产生新一届国家领导人，劳尔·卡斯特罗卸任国家元首，原国务委员会第一副主席兼部长会议第一副主席米格尔·迪亚斯—卡内尔当选新任国务委员会主席兼部长会议主席。中方对此有何评论？ 

　　答：中方热烈祝贺古巴选举产生新一届国家领导人，尊重和支持古巴人民的选择。中共中央总书记、国家主席习近平已分别致电劳尔·卡斯特罗同志和迪亚斯—卡内尔同志表示祝贺，李克强总理也已向迪亚斯—卡内尔同志致贺。中方领导人高度评价中古政治互信，表示愿同古方领导人一道努力，不断拓展两国合作广度和深度，努力创造属于新时代的中古友谊光辉业绩。 

Q: On April 19, Cuba's new National Assembly of People's Power officially elected the new national leadership. Raul Castro left the post of head of state and former First Vice President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers Miguel Diaz-Canel was elected as the new President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers. What is your comment? 

A: China warmly congratulates the election of the new leadership in Cuba and we respect and support the choice of the Cuban people. General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President Xi Jinping has sent congratulatory messages to comrade Raul Castro and comrade Miguel Diaz-Canel respectively and Premier Li Keqiang has also sent a message of congratulation to comrade Miguel Diaz-Canel. The Chinese leadership commend the political mutual trust between China and Cuba and stand ready to work with the Cuban leadership to expand and deepen bilateral cooperation and score glorious achievements in China-Cuba friendship in a new era. 

　　中古友谊深厚，合作基础坚实。我们衷心祝愿古巴社会主义发展道路越走越宽广，相信有风格、有担当的古巴将继续在国际和地区舞台上发出响亮声音。 

　　问：第一，据报道，本月早些时候，3艘澳大利亚军舰在穿越南海时遭遇到来自中国军舰的“挑战”。中方能否介绍具体情况？第二，澳大利亚政府称，澳方拥有开展“航行自由”的权利，并将在未来继续行使这一权利。中方对此有何回应？ 

China and Cuba enjoy profound friendship and a solid basis for cooperation. We sincerely hope that Cuba's path of socialist development can become wider and wider and believe that a responsible Cuba with its own characteristics can continue to utter its loud voice at the world stage. 

Q: First, do you have any details on the reported "challenge" by the Chinese warships to three Australian ones in the South China Sea early this month? Second, what is your response to the Australian government's view that they have a right to conduct freedom of navigation and will continue to do so in the future?