China admires Fidel's courage

China admires Fidel's courage
By Larry Moonze in Havana, Cuba
Friday June 27, 2008 [04:00]

COMMUNIST Party of China's political bureau member He Guogiang has said China always admired Fidel Castro's struggle and courage. During his two-hour meeting with leader of the Cuban revolution Fidel Castro in Havana on Tuesday afternoon, He who is also the secretary of the Central Commission of Disciplinary Control of its Central Committee invited Fidel to attend the Olympic Games in Beijing if his health permitted.

Apart from relaying Chinese President Hu Jintao's message of best wishes to Fidel's continued recovery from the intestinal surgery he underwent in July 2006, He admitted he admired Castro's will.


"We have always admired your struggle, your will and your courage," said He while recalling that during his youth in China he had participated in many demonstrations in solidarity with Cuba.

He emphasised the importance of Fidel's ideas for his
people in the development of socialism and the strengthening of their spirit of struggle.

And He thanked the Cuban people, government and party for their support to the Chinese people during the recent earthquake in Sichuan Province and especially Fidel for his personal concern and solidarity.


He also said he had read the Chinese edition of 100 hours with Fidel and the Cuban leader's prologue dedicated to the Chinese people.

He also discussed the "Reflections by Comrade Fidel" column that Castro recently devoted to the history and current struggles of the Chinese people.

According to a communiquŽ, He and Castro exchanged opinions on bilateral relations, provocations by the West in Tibet, the situation in Taiwan, the crude manipulation of the human rights issue against socialism, the food crisis, the information society and other issues.

They discussed with particular interest then forthcoming Olympic Games in Beijing.


The duo spoke of the great effort being made by China to host the sports event, preparations for which were moving along satisfactorily, as well as the great expectations for the duel in the 110-meter hurdles
competition between Chinese Olympic champion Liu Xiang and Cuban world record holder Dayron Robles.

Fidel Castro expressed his confidence that China would
organise a brilliant Olympics.


On this point He invited Fidel to attend the event if his health would allow it and predicted that Cuba would win several medals in athletics.

Castro stressed the Chinese people's advances and the importance of the concept of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

He declared his admiration for China's culture and its
people's spirit of collective work.


Castro asked that his appreciation be conveyed to the news agency Xinhua for the precision and seriousness of its work when reporting about Cuba.

Castro also highlighted the immediate and effective response by Chinese authorities to the recent earthquake that hit Sichuan Province claiming thousands of lives.
He said the actions honoured the Chinese party and the
government.


Castro thanked China for accepting the Cuban medical brigade, which included three Chinese students studying medicine in Cuba, in the aftermath of the quake as part of an offer of solidarity.

On Cuba, Castro highlighted the efforts by the leadership of the revolution especially those of President Raul Castro in relation to the issues of unity, productivity, increasing agricultural production and conservation which were of great importance.
"What do I do?" retorted Castro.

"I help by gathering news and facts and making analyses of the most serious international problems which I contribute to the party leadership and the state. I make use of my time to gather a great deal of information to which I devote almost the entire day."


Earlier, He met with President Raul Castro with whom they highlighted the level that had been reached with respect to economic-trade relations and the willingness of both governments to further promote
them.

He said he was convinced that with the joint efforts of both parties, his visit to Cuba until Wednesday would be a total success.

He indicated that the trip achieved the objective of "getting to know one another better and of consolidating the traditional Chinese-Cuban friendship as well as increasing political trust and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation".

He informed President Raul of the political-ideological work of the Communist Party of China discussed during the 17th Congress that was held in 2007.