Visiting Chinese President Jiang Zemin and President Fidel Castro Ruz of the Council of State of Cuba agreed to consolidate friendship between the two countries and support each other in political and international affairs.

Jiang held a meeting with Castro on Friday. The atmosphere is ``kind and friendly'' and the meeting achieved ``wide, consistent and positive'' results, according to a spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The two countries also signed a package of documents in technical, economic, cultural, education and sports co-operation to push the bilateral friendly relations.

During the meeting, Castro expressed his warm welcome to Jiang's visit and said that Jiang's first visit in 1993, when Cuba was in the most difficult time, gave a great support to Cuba.

``This will be unforgettable to us,'' Castro was quoted as saying in the meeting.

He described the Cuba-China relations as ``being in the best period in the history'' and believed that Jiang's current visit will push the advancement of bilateral relations.

Jiang said that through many years of hard work, Cuba has achieved economic recovery and its foreign affairs work is expanding.

``This is a great achievement and we express our sincere admiration and impassioned congratulation,'' said Jiang.

The dauntless spirit shown by Cuban people in the fight of safeguarding state sovereignty and national independence as well as opposing foreign interference and subversion is a big encouragement to peoples of developing countries, according to Jiang.

The hearts of Chinese people and Cuban people are closely linked, he added.

Cuba is the first country in the western hemisphere to establish the diplomatic relations with China in September 1960.

Jiang gave high praises to Sino-Cuban relations: in recent years, the two countries understand and support each other in political affairs, expand economic co-operation, increase various exchanges and strengthen consultation in international affairs.

``Chinese Government treasures the firm support given by Cuban Government (to China) on such issues as human rights, Taiwan and Tibet questions and China's accession to the World Trade Organization,'' said Jiang.

Cuban said this year that it supports Beijing to apply for hosting 2008 Olympic Games and Shanghai to apply for hosting 2010 world's fair.

``We will support as always the justified fight of Cuban people to safeguard state sovereignty and national independence,'' said Jiang.

On bilateral economic and trade co-operation, Jiang said that Cuba is an important trade partner of China in Latin America and China is willing to make efforts with Cuba to deepen the co-operation on the mutually beneficial basis.

China is also willing to provide some aids in its capacity to Cuba, he added.

Castro briefed Jiang the domestic situation of Cuba and thanked Chinese Government for the support and help.

The two leaders also discussed some issues concerning bilateral economic and trade co-operation and exchange views on some important issues of common concern, said the Foreign Ministry spokesman, without elaboration.

The documents signed by the two countries include the agreements on exchange of sports and the exchange of education between the two countries, the agreement on ocean shipping, the agreement on avoidance of dual taxation and prevention of tax dodging and evasion, the agreement on technical and economic co-operation and agreements on loan and credit.

Jiang's visit to Cuba is the fifth leg of his six-nation Latin American tour. He has visited Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.

After the visit to Cuba, Jiang will fly to Venezuela to continue his tour.

(China Daily 04/14/2001)