"I inherited from my grandfather and father the love for martial arts, which is in my blood," he says.

"This is part of my family legacy."

As a Chinese-language teacher, he has witnessed a growing passion among Cubans for learning Chinese.

"Our student community is very diverse," he says. "Among pupils, we have elderly citizens, workers and university students. I feel they are making progress."

The study of Chinese language and culture has been on the rise in Cuba thanks to the work of social organizations and institutions, such as the Confucius Institute, which has seen thousands of students graduate since its founding in 2009.

Noting that Cuba was the first country in Latin America to establish diplomatic relations with China, Sochi Alay says the two countries share important historical links that make them more united and "share common values and principles since we are focused on the development of our socialist systems".

First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez paid a state visit to China last week. Sochi Alay believes the visit would reinforce the 62-year-long diplomatic relations between the two countries.

"Cuba and China defend socialist values and principles," Sochi Alay says. "The visit of the Cuban president to China will boost the economic, social and political collaboration between the two countries."