Luo Gan, member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), met in Havana Monday respectively with Carlos Lage and Ricardo Alarcon, members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba.

In his meeting with Lage, Luo said the CPC and the Chinese government treasure Sino-Cuban friendship, and will work with the Cuban side to implement the important consensus reached between leaders of the two countries in a bid to further promote the development of bilateral ties.

Luo said the Chinese government attaches great importance to bilateral economic and trade relations and will push forward bilateral economic and trade exchanges and cooperation on the basis of equality and reciprocity.

Lage, also vice president of the Council of State and secretary of the Executive Committee of the Council of Ministers of Cuba, pointed to the frequent exchanges of high-level visits and closer cooperation in politics, economy, trade, science, technology, culture and education between the two sides in recent years.

He expressed his admiration for China's development and his appreciation for China's support for Cuba in international affairs.

He briefed Luo on Cuba's development in recent years and said the Cuban party, government and people are confident in the future.

Luo and Lage also attended a signing ceremony for an agreement on bilateral economic and technical cooperation.

In his meeting with Alarcon, who is also president of the National Assembly of People's Power (NAPP) of Cuba, Luo said bilateral exchanges have been on the rise since the two countries set up diplomatic ties 45 years ago and the current bilateral relations have stepped up a new stage.

The Chinese side believes that the development of bilateral friendship and cooperation is in the fundamental interests of the two peoples and conducive to world peace and common development, said Luo.

Luo said the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, will, as always, advance friendship and cooperation with the NAPP.

Alarcon said the NAPP is satisfied with the sound cooperation with the NPC and is confident in the future development of exchanges between the two sides.

Luo arrived in Havana Sunday afternoon on a goodwill visit as guest of the Communist Party of Cuba.

Cuba is the last leg of Luo's visit to three Latin American countries. He visited Argentina and Uruguay before arriving here.

(Xinhua News Agency December 21, 2005)