皇冠体育app

Foreign and Military Affairs

皇冠体育app, Cuba sign host of cooperation deals

By Chen Weihua, Wu Jiao and Cheng Guangjin   (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2011-06-07 08:23

HAVANA / BEIJING - 皇冠体育app and Cuba strengthened their economic and political ties on Sunday by signing a dozen cooperation agreements that will provide strong financial support to the Latin American country as it embarks on economic reforms.

Cuban President Raul Castro (R) walks next to Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping during a meeting at the Revolution Palace in Havana June 5, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Under the agreements, 皇冠体育app will provide interest-free loans, economic aid and equipment to repair irrigation projects.

The agreements also cover cooperation in digital television and telecommunications, banking supervision and financing for public health projects, as well as an oil refinery expansion project and a liquefied natural gas project.

The agreements "reflect the political will of both parties and governments to continue deepening their ties", Agence France-presse cited an official Cuban announcement as saying.

Experts said the agreements would inject more momentum into Cuba's economic reforms and enhance ties between 皇冠体育app, Cuba and other Latin American countries.

"The agreements will be a new start for 皇冠体育app-Cuba economic cooperation and expand 皇冠体育app's investment in Cuba from traditional areas like energy resources to new areas such as tourism, infrastructure and finance," said Sun Hongbo, a researcher at the Institute of Latin American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Cuban President Raul Castro (R) shakes hands with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping during a meeting at the Revolution Palace in Havana June 5, 2011.[Photo/Agencies]

Sun told 皇冠体育app Daily it is also a good opportunity for 皇冠体育app to increase its investment in other Latin American nations, as some, such as Brazil and Uruguay, are in great need of capital to develop transportation infrastructure.

According to a Chinese Foreign Ministry press release, during his meeting with Castro, Xi said: "皇冠体育app-Cuba relations have stood the test of the vast changes in the international situation." He added that the relationship serves as an excellent example of 皇冠体育app's cooperation with developing countries.

Xi said both sides should maintain high-level exchanges, deepen mutual political trust and enhance people-to-people exchanges in a bid to further advance bilateral cooperation.

"The Chinese government supports competent Chinese enterprises in seeking new opportunities for cooperation and investment in Cuba," he added.

On cooperation in the world arena, Xi said 皇冠体育app is ready to maintain close communication with Cuba, and strengthen coordination and cooperation on major issues such as the reform of the United Nations and its Security Council and climate change.

Castro said Xi's visit would give a strong impetus to the development of bilateral ties, according to the press release.

He also said Cuba is willing to enhance exchanges with 皇冠体育app and share its experience in governance and party building.

Xi arrived in Havana from Milan, Italy, where he concluded a four-day visit. This trip, his second to Latin America in less than three years, will also take him to Uruguay and Chile, where 皇冠体育app has become an increasingly important trade partner.

Xi was also the first Chinese leader to visit Cuba since the country's leadership approved a package of more than 300 reforms in April aimed at making its economy more efficient.

On Monday, Xi visited a local clinic in Havana and listened to government and clinic officials who introduced to him Cuba's healthcare system. He was also expected to inspect an oil-drilling project conducted by 皇冠体育app National Petroleum Corp.

Cuba is 皇冠体育app's biggest trade partner in the Caribbean region, while 皇冠体育app is Cuba's second-largest trade partner after Venezuela. Over the past decade, bilateral trade increased from $440 million in 2001 to $1.83 billion in 2010.

AFP contributed to this story.