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| China seeks boost to Cuba ties | China seeks boost to Cuba ties |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| President Hu Jintao of China is heading to Cuba - his second visit since 2004 - aiming to promote economic ties with the Caribbean island. | President Hu Jintao of China is heading to Cuba - his second visit since 2004 - aiming to promote economic ties with the Caribbean island. |
| China is now Cuba's biggest trading partner after Venezuela, with bilateral trade at $2.3bn (£1.5bn) in 2007. | China is now Cuba's biggest trading partner after Venezuela, with bilateral trade at $2.3bn (£1.5bn) in 2007. |
| Mr Hu arrives from Costa Rica, which last year switched diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to China. | Mr Hu arrives from Costa Rica, which last year switched diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to China. |
| China has seen its trade with Latin American nations climb from $13bn in 2000 to more than $100bn in 2007. | China has seen its trade with Latin American nations climb from $13bn in 2000 to more than $100bn in 2007. |
| Costa Rica's diplomatic switch saw it cut ties with Taiwan after 60 years and form relations with China - a move which Costa Rican officials said at the time was designed to attract Chinese investment. | Costa Rica's diplomatic switch saw it cut ties with Taiwan after 60 years and form relations with China - a move which Costa Rican officials said at the time was designed to attract Chinese investment. |
| Cuba looks like it's stuck in 1959... China often looks as if it has decided to skip ahead to 2059 James Reynolds BBC Beijing corresondent Comparing China and Cuba class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7734530.stm">Cuba's special ties with China | |
| China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and refuses to have diplomatic ties with nations that recognise it. | China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and refuses to have diplomatic ties with nations that recognise it. |
| Mr Hu was to discuss promoting a free trade agreement between China and the Central American nation during his talks in San Jose. | Mr Hu was to discuss promoting a free trade agreement between China and the Central American nation during his talks in San Jose. |
| Correspondents say Mr Hu's two-day visit to Cuba is also aimed at boosting economic ties. | Correspondents say Mr Hu's two-day visit to Cuba is also aimed at boosting economic ties. |
| Although both countries are run by Communist parties, they have pursued very different economic models. | |
| China has adopted market economics while Cuba still has a command system with most of the economy under state control. | China has adopted market economics while Cuba still has a command system with most of the economy under state control. |
| When Mr Hu last visited Cuba in 2004 Fidel Castro was still in charge of the country. His younger brother, Raul Castro, officially took over the presidency in February 2008 and has introduced some reforms. | When Mr Hu last visited Cuba in 2004 Fidel Castro was still in charge of the country. His younger brother, Raul Castro, officially took over the presidency in February 2008 and has introduced some reforms. |
| Raul Castro saw China and its ability to juggle communist ideals with a robust approach to capitalism spawning such an impressive level of economic growth in China as a potential model for Cuba to follow, says Emilio San Pedro of the BBC World Service Americas desk. | |
| China, a modern-day economic powerhouse in a world of financial uncertainty, sees Cuba with its need for investment and political support as an important ally in its long-range plans to strengthen and expand its ties with the rest of Latin America, he adds. | |
| The Chinese president will travel on from Cuba to Peru where he will attend the Apec (Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation) summit in Lima on 21 and 22 November. | The Chinese president will travel on from Cuba to Peru where he will attend the Apec (Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation) summit in Lima on 21 and 22 November. |