Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel today in Beijing. The two leaders said they would raise bilateral ties and deepen cooperation under China's Belt and Road Initiative. CGTN's Hou Na reports from the Great Hall of the People.

China is the fourth stop of Miguel Díaz-Canel's first tour to Europe and Asia since he became president in April. President Xi Jinping welcomed him and expressed satisfaction that he was visiting China so soon after taking office, which he said showed the importance Cuba gives to Havana-Beijing ties.

President Xi said China and Cuba are good friends and good brothers. No matter how situations change, China will firmly support deepening friendly cooperation with Cuba. President Díaz-Canel said his visit to China gives continuity and strengthens the bilateral relations developed without interruption for 58 years. The two leaders witnessed the signing of a series of agreements on trade, energy and agriculture. 

ZHAO BENTANG, DIRECTOR-GENERAL LATIN AMERICAN & CARIBBEAN AFFAIRS, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY "The two sides have signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. China welcomes Cuba to use the first China International Import Expo as a platform to support bilateral trade."

Before he arrived in Beijing, Díaz-Canel took part in the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai. Experts say that like his predecessors, Diaz-Canel will maintain the well-established China-Cuba relationship and seek further economic opportunities, especially Chinese investment. Agriculture, infrastructure and tourism are potential investment targets.

The expo in Shanghai will provide opportunities for Cuban companies to boost exports of rum, cigars and fruit to the Chinese market.

China has become Cuba's second largest trading partner and Cuba is China's largest trading partner in the Caribbean. Bilateral trade volume was worth 1.78 billion dollars in 2017. The Cuban president is scheduled to finish his visit on Thursday. HOU NA, CGTN, BEIJING.