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• 11 / 20 / 2008

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The Chinese president began his third Cuba visit on Monday, the second as chief of State, after he signed 16 cooperation agreements during his previous stay in 2004.

Hu came from Costa Rica, where he paved the way for a future free trade agreement, and will meet with other APEC leaders on the weekend.

On Tuesday, he held a fraternal meeting with Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro, an expression of bilateral friendship links.

Shortly before, he had held official talks with his Cuban peer Raul Castro, after visiting a school where 1,000 Chinese students are learning Spanish.

"Our friendship ties have increased in recent years, along with cooperation in several fields, with fruitful results," he said.

After the official talks, Raul Castro and Hu Jintao, along with the rest of the Chinese delegation and Cuban leaders at the meeting, attended the signing of several agreements.

China is Cuba's second commercial partner, after Venezuela.

(PL)