Beijing, June 11th—Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), met here today with Gladys Martinez Verdecia, Member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) and First Secretary of the Provincial Committee in Artemisa.  

Liu said, China and Cuba are good friends, good comrades and good brothers. Over the years, the PCC and the Cuban people have withstood external pressure and made new achievements in the cause of socialist construction with resilience. The CPC is willing to work with the PCC to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of both Parties and countries, strengthen high-level exchanges, intensify exchanges between functional departments of the two Parties, promote practical cooperation and sub-national exchanges in agriculture and other fields, and push the building of a China-Cuba community with a shared future for substantial progress. Liu also shared the CPC's governance experience over its century-long development, stressing that maintaining the CPC's leadership is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization is the CPC's central task. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era represents the latest theoretical innovation of the CPC. The CPC is willing to deepen theoretical and practical exchanges in party building and state governance with the PCC to advance respective socialist causes.   

Martinez said, by visiting Hunan, Hainan and other provinces, he witnessed China's leapfrog development achievements and learned the practices and experience of the CPC in party building, the selection, training and appointment of cadres, economic development and the ideological and political work of young people. The relationship between the two Parties is an important cornerstone of Cuba-China relations. The PCC hopes to strengthen friendly exchanges with the CPC at all levels, promote cooperation in agriculture, economy, trade, local affairs and other fields, and push forward the development of bilateral relations. He voiced the Cuban side's gratitude to the Chinese side for its long-term selfless help and strong support to Cuba, and said the PCC will be committed to leading the Cuban people in building socialism with solidarity and an unwavering conviction.  

Chen Zhou, Vice-minister of the IDCPC, was present.