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)