HAVANA, Cuba, Apr 20 (Cuban News Agency) The president of China and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of that Asian country, Hu Jintao, sent a message of congratulations to Cuban President Raul Castro, on the occasion of his appointment as First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) during the Sixth Congress of that organization.

In the message, published on Wednesday by Prensa Latina and other international news agencies, Hu Jintao affirmed that Cuba has made significant achievements despite countless difficulties and increasing external pressures.

The Chinese president noted that he feels confident that Cuban people will succeed in the construction of socialism under the command of Raul, the PCC and the Government.

The note states that the Chinese Communist Party and Government ratify the importance of bilateral relations with Cuba and reaffirm their willingness to strengthen and promote the sustainable development of the links between these two countries, and to boost cooperation in different fields.

The Sixth Congress of the Cuban Communist Party concluded on Tuesday at Havana’s Convention Center, with the presence of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro. During the closing session of the Congress the new Politburo and the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the PCC were presented.