POL Jiang praises Cuba as he receives a warm welcome

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Current News : One Thread

AVANA - Embraced by President Fidel Castro upon his arrival in Cuba, Chinese President Jiang Zemin began his visit to his country's only communist ally in the Western Hemisphere on a warm note.

The trip comes in the wake of Cuba's strong support for China in its diplomatic flap over a US spy plane

Cuba, a former Soviet ally, began looking to China for help with its struggling economy after the Soviet collapse a decade ago.

Trade between China and Cuba amounted to US$314 million (S$570 million) last year. Its most visible signs are the thousands of Chinese bicycles that circulate on the island.

Both nations are trying to line up support, especially in Latin America, just days before the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva is to vote on the rights records of China, Cuba and other countries. --AP, AFP

Straits Times link

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