During his meeting with Fidel Castro, president of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of Cuba, Jiang said he was delighted at the enhancement of political trust, economic cooperation and mutual support in international affairs between the two countries.

He pledged China is willing to work with Cuba to further boost ties.

Castro arrived in Beijing yesterday to kick off a four-day visit. His visit occurred one week before the convening of this year's National People's Congress, during which China's new government leaders for the next five years will be elected. In November, the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) elected a new Party leadership.

According to a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Jiang said at yesterday's meeting that the two countries have noted the changed international situation and bilateral ties have been adapted to the changes.

He also attributed the good ties to both countries' attaching strategic importance to such a relationship.

The development of bilateral relations will be conducive to the cooperation of developing countries as well as to safeguard world peace and promote common development, said Jiang.

The spokesman quoted Castro as telling Jiang that Cuba attaches importance to its relations with China.

Bilateral trade volume registered US$446 million in 2001, maintaining the trend of steady development in recent years. China mainly imports raw sugar from the Caribbean country while exporting rice, kidney beans, mechanical and electronic products, medicine, light industrial and textile products.

The two countries signed an agreement on economic and technical cooperation following yesterday's meeting, stating their wish to further develop economic and trade ties.

Castro also briefed Jiang on the situation in Cuba. Castro told Jiang that Cuba has readjusted its industrial structures and taken a series of effective measures in an effort to counter the impact brought by the changed international political and economic situation and natural disasters.

These measures have ensured social stability and the improvement in living conditions of the people in Cuba, said Castro.

Castro, who last visited China in 1995, said his country wants to learn from China's experience.

Castro is scheduled to hold separate meetings with Premier Zhu Rongji, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Hu Jintao and Vice-Premier Wen Jiabao today. He will also travel to Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, before returning home on Saturday.

(China Daily February 27, 2003)