On February 26, 2003, President Jiang Zemin held talks with Fidel Castro, President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of Cuba at the Great Hall of the People. The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

President Jiang noted that the past decade had witnessed the best and most rapid development of Sino-Cuban ties. During his 1993 visit to Cuba and Castro's visit to China in 1995, Jiang said, the two sides, taking into consideration the significant developments in the international situation, had exchanged in-depth views and reached wide-ranging consensus, which had set the tone for the future growth of bilateral ties.

President Jiang said a solid foundation had been laid for the development of bilateral ties, and the rapid development of relations was positive for solidarity and cooperation among developing countries and for the maintenance of world peace and the promotion of common development. China and Cuba have the common wish to develop bilateral ties. The two sides attached strategic importance to the growth of bilateral ties, Jiang said, stressing that Sino-Cuban relations have always kept pace with the time and adapted to volatile changes in the international political arena.

Jiang said China was pleased to witness the strengthening of mutual political trust and economic and trade cooperation between the two nations. China and Cuba support and closely coordinated with each other in both international and multilateral affairs, and China is satisfied with the trade and economic cooperation with Cuba in recent years, and would like to work with Cuban friends for the development of friendly relations.

President Jiang briefed Castro on the 16th national congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and noted that the congress had laid a solid basis and provided a reliable guarantee for the CPC and China's future development in the new century and would have a major and far-reaching influence on the transition of the Party and the country. Jiang said a new, collective Chinese leadership was elected by the congress. He was convinced that under the new leadership the friendly ties between the two nations would continue to advance.
　　
Castro said he was delighted to visit China again to meet old friends and make new ones.

Following the "September 11" incident, the global political and economic situation had undergone profound changes, Castro noted. Affected by those changes and also by natural disasters, Castro went on, the Cuban economy had encountered some difficulties. However, the prompt and effective restructuring of the national industry had achieved good results and maintained social stability and raised the Cuban people's standard of living, Castro noted.

Castro said Cuba attaches great importance to relations with China, and in its cause of nation-building process, Cuba can draw on China's successful experience. Castro said Cuba hopes to further strengthen its ties with China in an all-round way.

Jiang and Castro also exchanged views on current international issues.