国内英语新闻:Chinese FM lauds friendship with Cuba, sees great cooperation potential

HAVANA, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Saturday said that China and Cuba share profound traditional friendship and huge potential for boosting bilateral cooperation.

In an interview on his ongoing trip to the Caribbean island state, Yang spoke highly of the friendship between the two countries, which he said has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples.

Noting that Cuba was the first Latin American country to establish diplomatic ties with China, the top Chinese diplomat said that the China-Cuba relations, characterized by friendly cooperation of mutual benefits, have stood various tests during the past five decades despite the constant changes of the volatile international situation.

Cuba's leader Raul Castro (R) meets with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Havana, capital of Cuba, Aug. 1, 2010.

Meanwhile, recent years have seen the two countries gain mounting momentum in the development of their relations and the two peoples show increasing readiness for more exchange and cooperation, Yang added.