(MENAFN) China called on the United States to lift its sanctions on Cuba Thursday, reaffirming its support for the Cuban people in their efforts to protect their "sovereignty and dignity."

"China will continue supporting the Cuban people in choosing the development path suitable to Cuba's national conditions, defending sovereignty and dignity, opposing external interference and blockade," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing.

The appeal comes ahead of a vote next week at the United Nations General Assembly, where a non-binding resolution will be presented calling for an end to the "economic, trade, and financial blockade" the US has imposed on Cuba for over six decades.

On Wednesday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez accused Washington of "coercing" other nations to alter their stance on the upcoming resolution.

Guo reiterated China's position, urging the US to "lift its blockade, remove Cuba from the so-called list of state sponsors of terrorism, and do more things conducive to the improvement of Cuba-US relations, and to peace and development of the region."

He described the ongoing embargo as having "devastated" the Cuban population, and criticized US actions as escalating coercive diplomacy. "Instead of reflecting upon what it has done, the US now goes even further in its coercive diplomacy," he said.

"This seriously violates international law and the basic norms governing international relations, goes against international humanitarian principles, puts itself on the opposite side of justice and will certainly be rejected by the international community," Guo added.

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