Chinese President Hu Jintao has arrived in Cuba for a two-day visit to promote further economic ties with the country.
Mr Hu, making his second trip to Cuba, was greeted at Havana's airport by First Vice President Jose Ramon Machado Ventura.
"My visit is aimed at increasing friendship and co-operation between our two nations, and working together with our Cuban comrades to build a promising future," Mr Hu said in a statement.
Hu offered "sincere good wishes that the Cuban people achieve continuous new advances in the construction of socialism".
No sooner had Mr Hu landed than Cuban television said the two countries had already signed accords for China to continue purchasing nickel and sugar from Cuba and to provide agricultural products to the Caribbean country.
More agreements on economic, education and other matters were expected to be signed during a visit Cuba hailed as an indication of the close relations between the two Communist-run countries.
Cuba is struggling to recover from three hurricanes and the ongoing effects of the global financial crisis. China is Cuba's largest trading partner after Venezuela at $2.3 billion in 2007 and is looking to increase that number.
Chinese loans have helped Cuba rebound from the hardships that followed the 1991 collapse of its Cold War benefactor, the Soviet Union, and those loans are starting to come due.
Western diplomats said it was likely that restructuring those debts and future credits will be on the agenda as Hu meets with Cuban officials, including President Raul Castro.
Reuters