President Hu Jintao
met Fidel Castro, president of the Cuban Council of State, soon
after his arrival in Havana for a state visit on Monday
afternoon.
They agreed to work together to expand mutually beneficial
cooperation, with Hu saying that their relationship has withstood
the test of time and developed as the international situation has
changed.
"We have helped each other and treated each other with
sincerity," Hu said. "We are friends and brothers. A better
relationship between
China and Cuba will serve not only the?interests of our
two countries, but also world peace and common development."
Hu proposed that they increase exchange visits by leaders of the
government, parliament, political parties and non-governmental
institutions.
China and Cuba could also expand cooperation in tourism, aquatic
products and biotechnology, he said.
In addition, he said they could strengthen cooperation in
international arenas to safeguard the interests of developing
nations and world peace.
Hu briefed Castro about China's socioeconomic development and
new development strategy characterized by the concept of human
first, balanced and sustainable development.
Castro told Hu that he has paid great attention to China
development and that he was glad to see its fast growth and the
expansion of Cuba-China cooperation.
Castro said he agreed with Hu's proposals and that Cuba hopes to
purchase about one million more color TV sets from China, as the
1.3 million sets previously imported were "very good" in
quality.
Following their conversation, a number of agreements were signed
on cooperation in plant quarantine, biotechnology, education and
economy.
Cuba was the first Latin American country to establish full
diplomatic relations with China in 1960. Hu previously visited Cuba
in 1997.
Trade between China and Cuba has been about US$400 million
annually over the past three years. Trade volume reached US$401
million from January to September this year, up 36.7 percent.
China mainly imports sugar and nickel from Cuba and exports
machinery and electronic products to it.
Cuba is the last leg of Hu's Latin American trip. Previously he
visited Brazil, Argentina and Chile, where he attended the annual
APEC leaders' meeting.
(Xinhua News Agency November 23, 2004)