Earlier, a Chinese envoy to the UN called on the US to lift the Cuban embargo. Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, made the appeal ahead of the General Assembly vote. Liu said China hopes the US and Cuba continue to work toward the normalization of ties.

Washington imposed the blockade against Havana in 1962. It came after intensified political differences between the US and the socialist Cuban government led by Fidel Castro. Full diplomatic ties were restored in July last year. But the US hasn't repealed the embargo yet.