The diplomatic and military ties between China and Cuba have been strengthened by the visit of General Fan Changlong, the Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission, to the island nation. Since the beginning of the week, Raul Castro, President of the Councils of State and Ministers of Cuba, has hosted Gen. Fan and his delegation of senior Chinese military officials, who are visiting the Caribbean nation on the invitation of Cuba's Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR).

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Besides former President Hu Jintao, who visited Cuba in 2004, Gen. Fan is the highest ranking Chinese officials to visit Cuba since the island nation's hostiles with the U.S. began 50 years ago.

Gen. Fan's two day visit to Cuba comes after his trip to the U.S. where he met with Defense Secretary Ash Carter and held talks at the Pentagon. The trip to the U.S. is very important, and comes amid tensions between the world's two largest economies over the South China Sea.

China-Cuba relations have been growing steadily for many years. Gen. Fan's visit is the latest exchange between high-ranking military officials of both nations.

"I think the Chinese army and the Cuban army share the principle of protecting national peace and security, and never launch initiative attacks on others or provocative behaviors," a 16-year-old Cuban high school student told Shanghai Daily.

Reports indicate that the latest exchange included discussions on how China-Cuba relations would be affected as a result of the improved state of the relationship between Washington and Havana. During the meeting with Gen. Fan, President Castro also highlighted on the ties between Cuba and China and called for more collaboration in military matters.

China is believed to have sent Gen. Fan and his delegation to assess the negotiations between Cuba and the U.S. in order to predict the implications of the talks on China's strategic interest in the region. The delegation also laid foundations for the visit of President Xi Jinping to the region later in the year.

"Cuba and America are now seeking to warm up to the frosty relations. At this moment, the top Chinese general's visit makes me believe that China will, as always, support our country," a shop owner Havana said.

Diplomatic ties and cooperation between Cuba and China have been ongoing since the late 1990s. Chinese officials have reportedly been operating two intelligence signal stations in the island nation since 1999. Both nations are also cooperating in trade, investments and technology. After Venezuela, China is said to be Cuba's second largest trading partner.

Experts say China has been assisting Cuba to develop its economy, which has been substantially   weakened by years of sanctions. The Cuban government is looking to reform its economic system and China is an essential ally to achieve this goal. Bilateral trade between both nations has been on a steady rise - in 2005 trade between Cuba and China totaled $777 million.

China's State-owned oil company (SINOPEC) and Cuba Petroleum (CUPET) have signed an agreement that would see the former developing the oil resources of the island state. Tourism, which is Cuba's second largest foreign revenue earner, has also seen a boost after Air China began operating its first ever direct flight from Beijing to Havana last year.

TagsCuba, China-Cuba Relations, Gen. Fan Chanlong Visits Cuba