Beijing, April 17 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque began on Monday a wide programme of contacts in the Chinese capital, a new step in the growing bilateral relations.

The Cuban minister is here at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Li Zhaoxing, with whom he will hold official talks and sign a protocol of bilateral collaboration.

Perez Roque’s official visit to China began on Sunday in the southern province of Guangdong, where he inaugurated a new Cuban general consulate in the city of 12 million which has links to the Caribbean island due to the Chinese migration since the 19th century.

The collaboration plan between Cuba and China will establish political consultations of their respective foreign ministries, dealing with the international situation and issues of reciprocal interest as well as collaboration in the United Nations.

The Cuban delegation is also made up of deputy minister Marcos Rodriguez and the directors of Asia and Oceania, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean and Multilateral Affairs, among others

The visitors will hold meetings and consultations with their counterparts of the Chinese ministry showing the highest level achieved between the two countries’ relations.

The programme also envisages meetings between Perez Roque and the Chief of the International Department of the Central Committee of China Communist Party (PCCh), Wang Jiaru and the Trade Minister Bo Xilai.

During his stay in Beijing Perez Roque will deliver a conference on Cuba and the International Situation to investigators and specialists at the Institute of Contemporary International relations, following the programme.

Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong reiterated the unbreakable friendship between China and Cuba during a meeting Monday with Perez Roque at the Great Hall of the People.

He said the traditional friendship between the peoples and governments proved the strategic character of the ties, and that China is willing to continue contributing to the development of the island.

The Cuban minister, who is officially visiting China between April 15 and 18, on behalf of Cuban leader Fidel Castro and Vice-President Raul Castro, delivered a private greeting to President Hu Jintao and other Chinese leaders.

Perez Roque explained the situation in his country, including the struggle of the Cuban people against the United States blockade that has been strengthened during the Bush Administration, but which has not stopped the constant advance of the Cubans.

Zeng highlighted the shared understanding of both countries in the international sphere and emphasized the important role of the Caribbean island in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Both Vice President Zen and Foreign Minister Perez Roque were delighted at the advances of China-Cuba cooperation, especially in the field of ophthalmology and they also discussed the training of Chinese students in Cuba and agreed that it, and the training of Cuban students in China, is going well.

Meanwhile the Foreign Minister Li and Perez Roque have signed a collaboration plan between both ministries as part of strengthening their friendly relations.

Surrounded by their main collaborators, the foreign ministers held a long meeting during which they raised bilateral and international issues.
The meeting addressed points of view on assessment of the current world situation and reaffirmed the need for interaction between both countries in the international arena.

The collaboration document, signed in a simple ceremony at Diaoyutai protocol complex, creates the necessary legal context to develop permanent consults between both foreign ministries. It also includes cooperation between China and Cuba in several spheres, such as training of officials of both countries ministries.

The Cuban media highlighted the importance of this agreement, considering China’s current international role.