President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Cuban leader Raul Castro's special envoy Salvador Valdes Mesa (L) at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing on June 27, 2016.[Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - President Xi Jinping met with Cuban leader Raul Castro's special envoy Salvador Valdes Mesa on Monday at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing.

Xi welcomed Valdes, a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), to Beijing to brief the Chinese side on the Cuban Party's seventh Congress.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, congratulated the Cuban side on the congress and asked Valdes to convey his greetings to comrades Fidel Castro and Raul Castro.

Hailing Cuba's achievements over the past more than 50 years, Xi said he believed that the Cuban people will achieve even more in the socialist cause under the leadership of the new PCC Central Committee with Raul Castro as first secretary.

Xi said the relationship between China and Cuba withstood the test of changes in the international arena and that the two countries share a common ideal and bear deep affection for each other.

Recalling his state visit to Cuba two years ago, Xi said he hopes the two sides will cement their friendship and boost cooperation.

Valdes said the Cuban side cherishes the traditional friendship between Cuba and China and that Cuba's new leadership attaches great importance to the ties between the two parties as well as the two countries.

The Cuban side looks forward to closer exchanges on governance and practical cooperation.