Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said in Havana Sunday that China and Cuba should make concerted efforts to bring their mutually-beneficial and friendly cooperation to a new and higher level.

Chinese vice-president Xi Jinping meets with Cuba's leader Raul Castro in Havana, Cuba, June 5, 2011. [Ma Zhancheng/Xinhua]

Xi made the remarks during talks with Raul Castro, president of Cuba's Council of State and the Council of Ministers.

Cuba is the first Latin American country to set up diplomatic ties with China, Xi noted. Last year, the two countries hosted a series of events to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

"China-Cuba relations have stood the test of the vast changes in the international situation," Xi said, adding that their relations serve as an excellent example of China's cooperation with other developing countries in the world.

At present, the international situation remains complex and the world order faces major adjustments. "Under these new circumstances, the maintenance and expansion of our bilateral relations is the common aspirations of our two sides, serves our long-term interests and is also conducive to world peace and development," he said.

In efforts to further advance China-Cuba cooperation, both sides should maintain high-level exchanges and deepen mutual political trust, Xi said.

The two countries should also deepen their practical and win-win cooperation. "The Chinese government supports competent Chinese enterprises in seeking new opportunities for cooperation and investment in Cuba," he said.

Xi also stressed the importance of people-to-people exchanges. "We should continue to expand cultural and educational cooperation and promote friendly exchanges between youths of the two countries so that the China-Cuban friendship will last for generations to come," he said.

On cooperation in the world arena, Xi said China is ready to maintain close communication with Cuba in the United Nations and other major international organizations and multilateral mechanisms, and strengthen their coordination and cooperation on such major issues as the reform of the UN and its Security Council and climate change to safeguard the common interests of the two countries and those of the developing world as a whole.

Raul said Xi's current visit will give a strong impetus to the all-round development of bilateral ties.

He briefed Xi on the recently-concluded sixth national congress of the Communist Party of Cuba and said policies adopted at the congress have won popular support from the Cuban people.

He also spoke highly of China's adherence to the road of socialism and the leadership of the Communist Party of China in the course of reforms and development.

He also said Cuba is willing to enhance exchanges with China and share its experience in governance and party building.

Xi arrived in Cuba Saturday evening after concluding an official to Italy. He will also pay official visits to Uruguay and Chile after Cuba.