Friendly relations between China and Cuba are now at a historical height, and China hopes to work with Cuba for enhancing the friendly and cooperative ties, said China's top legislator Wu Bangguo.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), promised in his meeting with Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada, president of the Cuban National Assembly of People's Power (CNAPP), that China will continue to back Cuba in safeguarding national sovereignty and opposing external intervention.

He expressed appreciation of Cuba's support for China on the Taiwan, Tibet and human rights issues.

Wu also praised the relations between the two communist parties, saying that the two parties as well as the two nations are working hard to explore ways of development that suit their respective domestic conditions.

China is willing to join hands with the Cuba to further political mutual trust, expand bilateral cooperation and intensify coordination on international issues, the Chinese top legislator said.

On inter-parliamentary relations, Wu said that the NPC values its exchanges and cooperation with the CNAPP, calling on the two sides to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges and continue to boost cooperation between the friendship groups and special committees of the two parliaments.

Alarcon said he agreed with Wu's views on the relations between the two nations and parties, adding China's achievements, including fast economic growth, improvement of living standards and growing international prestige, are vivid indications of the vitality of socialist system.

Cuba will learn China's precious experience in its national development and enhance cooperation with China in various fields, Alarcon stressed.

Alarcon and his party are visiting China at the invitation of the Communist Party of China.

(Xinhua News Agency June 5, 2007)