Luo Gan, member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), arrived in Havana Sunday afternoon for a goodwill visit as guest of the Communist Party of Cuba.

In a written statement delivered at the airport upon arrival, Luo said Cuba was the first Latin American country that established diplomatic relations with China.

He said in the past 45 years of diplomatic ties, bilateral relations have withstood the test of international changes and the two sides have continuously expanded their exchanges and cooperation in various fields and achieved satisfactory results.

Luo said the CPC and the Chinese government attach great importance to the friendship with Cuba and hope to further strengthen bilateral exchanges and cooperation.

He said he is convinced that this visit will be successful with efforts from both sides.

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

(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2005)