China and Cuba yesterday pledged to strengthen their friendship
on their rapidly growing cooperation in various fields.
The commitment was made during an-hour-long meeting between
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and his Cuban counterpart Felipe
Roque in Beijing.
The two sides agreed to enhance communication and have more
dialogue to push forward the mutually beneficial cooperation, with
Li and Roque signing an accord.
Roque called on Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong later in the day. He said it was
in his country's strategic interest to develop the cooperative ties
with China further.
The Cuban foreign minister is on a three-day visit to China,
which began on Sunday. Before flying to Beijing, he attended the
official opening of the Cuban consulate-general's office in
Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province.
"Most Cuban enterprises are keen to enter the Guangdong market
because it has become one of the major trade partners of Cuba. The
consulate-general's office is expected to serve as a bridge for
trade and investments between Cuba and Guangdong," Tania Velazquez
Lopez, consul-general of Cuba, said.
A trade representative office, set up by a number of Cuban
enterprises, was opened in Shenzhen in 2000, Tania said.
Most home appliances used in Cuba are from Guangdong, one of the
major home appliance manufacturers in China, she said.
"We will also seek cooperation with Guangdong in
telecommunication, bio-technology and tourism because the Chinese
province is a leader in these sectors."
Cuba has more than 100,000 Chinese emigrants, most of who are
from Guangdong, Tania said. "Since some people in Cuba can speak
Cantonese and since it also has a Guangdong Street, I believe that
the harmonious relationship between the two sides will lead to
increased cooperation in tourism and cultural exchange."
(China Daily April 17, 2007)
