BEIJING, July 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Fu Quanyou, chief of General Staff of the Chinese
                                        People's Liberation Army (PLA), said here Monday China and Cuba, both socialist
                                        countries, share many common grounds despite a long distance between them.

                                        The two sides desire to expand exchanges and promote cooperation, Fu said
                                        during his meeting with Sixto Batista Santana,director of the General Political
                                        Department of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, and his party.

                                        Fu, also member of the Central Military Commission, said that due to the joint
                                        efforts, the all-round bilateral relations have grown in recent years and in particular
                                        the exchange of visits by Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Cuban President Fidel
                                        Castro hasgiven a new impetus to the China-Cuba relations.

                                        Fu noted that the relations between the two armed forces have also boosted
                                        smoothly and hoped that such relations will continue to develop in a steady and
                                        healthy way in the 21st century.

                                        He briefed the guests on China's national defense policy and the current army
                                        building.

                                        Sixto said the two countries and two armed forces share many common interests
                                        and tasks, and need to further promote their cooperation so as to contribute to the
                                        world peace and stability.