Castro, who is on a four-day-trip to China, arrived in Beijing on Wednesday at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao.
The two nations signed eight agreements on Thursday, as the Cuban President met Chinese officials, including President Hu and top legislator Wu Bangguo. The agreements contained a loan to finance improvements, and more cooperation on trade, energy, infrastructure construction, agriculture and biotechnology.
“For us it is a matter of great pride to maintain relations with all the institutions of the People’s Republic of China and with its people,” said Castro, whose trip to Asia- also including a visit to Vietnam- aims at getting support for his country’s economic reforms from communist nations that began such reforms years ago.
Hu also said that since Raul Castro took office “the traditional friendship between China and Cuba has developed greatly.”
“We’re certain that this visit will increase cooperation on the highest levels,” Hu added, recalling his past three visits to Cuba.
The visit to China is Castro’s first trip to the Asian country since taking over the country’s leadership from his brother Fidel Castro in 2008.
Washington placed a trade embargo on the Caribbean island nation in 1960, a year after Castro overthrew the US-backed Fulgencio Batista regime.
China has constantly opposed the blockade, and is now Cuba’s second largest trading partner after Venezuela.
SAB/JR
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