Both heads of state held a private meeting before those talks, also preceded by the official welcoming ceremony to the Cuban leader and his delegation, composed by the Vice President of the Council of Ministers Ricardo Cabrisas and Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.

In the talks, the presidents evoked moments of previous meetings and Hu recalled his talks with the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro.

You have inherited and developed the fine tradition of friendship between China and Cuba and has paid great importance to strengthening relationships, so we assess very highly these efforts, the Chinese President stressed in his words of welcome for the Cuban leader.

He also said he was convinced that this visit will print a boost to trade and cooperation between the two countries to carry these ties of friendship to higher levels.

Meanwhile, the Cuban president said that these links as well as deepen, are expanding and strengthening, criteria for which quoted a phrase expressed shortly before during a his meeting with President of the Permanent Committee of National People’s Assembly, Wu Bangguo, when he stated that ” the relationships are adults.”

We are very proud of the close relationship we have today with China and especially with its people, he added.

After those talks, Raul Castro and Hu attended the ceremony in which the Cuban vice-president Cabrisas and the minister of Commerce Chen Deming, among other authorities, signed eight cooperation documents.

Those new steps include an economic-technical cooperation agreement on a donation from China to Cuba, and another on a loan free of interest.

There were also agreements regarding the financial sector, equipment related to digital television, cooperation between Customs and the Ministry of Agriculture and a loan by the China Development Bank to the National of Cuba for the rehabilitation and modernization of medical facilities.

Today, President Raul Castro will meet with Premier Wen Jiabao, the government deputy chief Li Keqiang and the vice president of this nation, Xi Jinping, who was in Cuba in June last year.

The official visit of the Cuban head of state to China precedes another that will make to Vietnam while continuing his tour through Asia.

Chinese President Hu Jintao expressed his most sincere respect and cordial greetings to the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro.

The 6th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba, held on the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of the socialist character of the Cuban Revolution, has been a Congress that inherits the past and projects into the future, the Chinese leader stated in his message, released here on Thursday.

During 50 years as founder and promoter of the revolution and construction in Cuba, Fidel Castro, unafraid of foreign pressure, has led the Cuban people in safeguarding their national sovereignty and dignity, said Hu, secretary general of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba.

Hu described Fidel Castro as an eminent revolutionary, ideologist, strategist and statesman, and said that 51 years ago, he resolutely declared the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the People’s Republic of China.

“You have always engaged in promoting Cuban-Chinese friendship, followed Chinese development closely, and given fraternal aid and support,” the Chinese president noted.

“We will continue supporting Cuba’s socioeconomic development as much as we can, and take forward the ties of friendship and cooperation between both parties and countries,” Hu said.

(Solvision)