Cuba and China have had frequent exchanges of high-level visits in recent years and their close ties are in the best period in history, said Cuban leader Fidel Castro Ruz while meeting with top Chinese national advisor Jia Qinglin in Havana Friday night.  

Castro, president of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers, said China has made encouraging achievements in economic construction and greatly contributed to the development of the world economy.

While maintaining a rapid economic development, China has attached importance to saving energy, he said, adding that other developing countries can learn a lot from the useful experience accumulated by China.

Cuba is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in fields such as economy, trade, transport, energy-saving products and medical equipment, and to open up new areas of cooperation to promote bilateral ties, he said.

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), also said at the talks that since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Cuba 45 years ago, the communist parties and peoples of the two countries have developed profound friendship.

With joint efforts of the two sides, China and Cuba have increasingly expanded their fruitful friendly exchanges and cooperation in all areas and lifted their relations to a new stage of all-round development, Jia noted.

During his visit to Cuba last November, President Hu Jintao reached important consensus with Castro on strengthening bilateral relations, which is being actively implemented now, Jia said.

He said the two countries should enhance their exchanges and cooperation to tap the great potential for economic and social development.

Jia expressed his gratitude to the Cuban Communist Party and the government for their support on issues such as the Taiwan question where China's fundamental interests lie.

China will adhere to the principle of long-term friendship with Cuba and promote the development of bilateral ties and their economic and trade cooperation, said Jia.

He also expressed his belief that with the joint efforts of the two parties, governments and peoples, the Chinese-Cuban friendship will pass from generation to generation and stand the test of time.

Jia arrived here Thursday for a four-day official goodwill visit.

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2005)