Thu, November 25, 2010
BEIJING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday vowed to boost mutual support and understanding with Cuba and deal with challenges arising from "complex international circumstances."
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping made the remarks while meeting with top Cuban legislator Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada in Beijing.
China and Cuba are both socialist countries, and given the current complex international circumstances it is important for both countries to support and help each other develop economically, improve people's livelihoods and jointly tackle severe challenges, said Xi.
Alarcon, president of the Cuban National Assembly of People's Power, Cuba's top legislative body, is on a six-day visit to China that began Nov. 21. The visit comes as the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
In 1960, Cuba was the first Latin American nation to forge diplomatic relations with China.
"In the past half century, China-Cuba ties have remained strong despite changes in the international arena, and the two peoples have fostered brotherly friendship," said Xi.
Xi said China will work with Cuba to continue to push forward bilateral cooperation in a healthy and stable manner.
Alarcon said Cuba and China need to learn from each other and achieve common development as both countries are seeking a development path suitable to national conditions.
Cuba would enhance exchanges at various levels with China to improve bilateral ties, said Alarcon.
Alarcon visited southwest China's Chongqing municipality before coming to Beijing.
He also held separate meetings on Wednesday with top China's legislator Wu Bangguo and Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body.
