Relations between our countries have come of age
•Affirms Raúl in meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao

Yaima Puig Meneses

BEIJING, China.—"I can state with pleasure that our relations, in addition to becoming deeper, are expanding and, above all, being consolidated," affirmed President Raúl Castro Ruz during official talks with the Chinese leader, Hu Jintao at the People’s Palace, in the afternoon of July 5.

His arrival at this emblematic Chinese construction was awaited by Hu Jintao, who expressed his pleasure at once again "meeting with a great friend."

The two leaders greeted the respective delegations and the official welcoming ceremony began with the national anthems of Cuba and China. After reviewing the troops, the presidents and delegations moved to the Grand East Salon for official talks.

President Hu Jintao affirmed that he retains pleasant memories of his three visits to Cuba, as well as a number of meetings with the leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro and Raúl himself.

He added that the Cuban leader’s visit would give significant impetus to the existing exchange of cooperation between the two countries and take the relations of friendship to a higher level.

Raúl recalled that Cuba was the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean to establish diplomatic links with the People’s Republic of China in 1960.

After the talks, eight cooperation documents in the economic, customs and telecommunications sectors were signed in the Hebei Salon of the People’s Palace.

An interest free credit line and a loan from the Development Bank of China to the Cuban government for the rehabilitation and upgrading of medical facilities were also signed.

Prior to the official reception, the Cuban President was received by Wu Bangguo, President of the Permanent Committee of the National People’s Assembly, who recalled with emotion his many visits to Cuba, while expressing his conviction that the visit would promote a greater development of relations.