On May 13, 2005, Fidel Castro, Chairman of the State Council and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba met with and hosted a banquet in the Palace of the Revolution for Chairman Jia Qinglin of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) who is in Cuba for an official friendly visit. Both sides held cordial and friendly talks on China-Cuba relationship and other issues of common concern.
Castro asked Jia to convey his cordial greetings and good wishes to President Hu Jintao and comrade Jiang Zemin. He said that in recent years Cuba and China have maintained frequent exchanges of high-level visits and at present the bilateral relations grow fairly closely and stand in the best period of history. China's achievements in economic development are encouraging and make great contributions to the development of the global economy. While maintaining the rapid economic growth, China pays attention to saving energy resources. Its good experiences in this regard are of important reference value to other developing countries. Cuba expects to strengthen cooperation with China in such fields as economy and trade, transportation, energy-efficient products and medical equipment and open new cooperation areas in a bid to promote the continuous development of bilateral relations.
Jia conveyed the cordial greetings and good wishes of President Hu Jintao and Comrade Jiang Zemin to Castro, saying that Cuba is the first Latin American country establishing diplomatic relations with China. Over the past 45 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties of the two countries, the two communist parties and peoples have developed profound friendship. Setting our feet on the beautiful land of Cuba, we feel the deep feeling of the Cuban people to the Chinese people everywhere.
Jia said that in recent years with the personal care of the leaders of the two countries the China-Cuba friendly exchanges and cooperation get increasingly deepened and have achieved fruitful results. The bilateral relations have entered into a new era of all-round development. In November last year during his visit to Cuba President Hu Jintao reached a series of important common consensuses with Chairman Castro on deepening and strengthening bilateral relations. Currently both countries are actively implementing those consensuses. The two countries enjoy great potential of cooperation in the field of economic and social progress and should reinforce exchanges and cooperation.
Jia Qinglin said that the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese government sincerely thank the Cuban communist party and government for their valuable support for China on the questions concerning China's fundamental interest including the Taiwan question and will continue to adhere to the principle of long-term friendship between China and Cuba to deepen the bilateral relations and economic and trade cooperation. Jia expressed confidence that with the joint efforts of both sides the China-Cuba friendship will pass on from generation to generation.
Jia also introduced the development of Chinese agriculture and water conservancy.