Cuban bus drivers highly regarded their Yutong buses made in China, in a survey published on Sunday by Cuban newspaper Juventud Rebelde (Rebel Youth).

The newspaper surveyed the Yutong drivers after Cuban traffic authorities published a report, noting that 437 accidents had taken place in Cuba since July 2005, leaving a total of 23 people dead and 110 others injured, but none of these involved a Yutong bus.

"The Yutong is light and very good. It even has a braking system for wet roads," said Gualberto Lopez, a driver of one of the 246 new buses, which were serving 15 million Cuban bus users.

"They have excellent brakes and lights... a safe transport means," said Eugenio Bernal, another driver.

The first batch of Yutong buses were received in February last year, at a ceremony hosted by Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

Yutong is a large-scale Chinese enterprise group with business covering bus, auto parts and engineering machinery production. Yutong Group exported 1,300 units of buses to Cuba in 2006 and plan to further export 5,000 units of buses to Cuba in three years.

Source: Xinhua