China's top legislator Wu Bangguo arrived in Havana on Tuesday afternoon for an official visit to Cuba at the invitation of President of the Cuban National Assembly of People's Power (CNAPP) Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada.

Wu Bangguo (L), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, is welcomed upon his arrival at the airport of Havana, Cuba, Sep. 1, 2009. [Xinhua Photo]

In a written statement released at the airport upon his arrival, Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, highlighted the rapid growth of the China-Cuba relations, noting that the growing bilateral cooperation has already brought concrete benefit to the two peoples.

"I expect to boost the traditional friendship and the bilateral cooperation with mutual benefit to a higher level by my visit," Wu said in the statement.

During the visit, Wu is scheduled to meet with Fidel Castro, the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, and President of the Council of State of Cuba Raul Castro Ruz and hold talks with Alarcon to exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern.

Cuba is the first leg of Wu's three-nation America tour. The trip will also take him to the Bahamas and the United States.

(Xinhua News Agency September 2, 2009)