Cuban leader Fidel Castro discussed bilateral cooperation Tuesday in Havana with a visiting senior Chinese party official.

In a meeting with Wang Jiarui, head of the Chinese Communist Party's International Department, Castro spoke highly of Cuba's long-standing friendship with China and hoped bilateral cooperation would deepen further.

Wang said the Chinese leadership attached great importance to relations with Cuba and will further expand bilateral cooperation in trade and other fields.

Wang arrived Saturday for a visit at the invitation of the Communist Party of Cuba.