Dec. 29, The Cuban Ambassador to China, Carlos Miguel Pereira, on Monday characterized relations with China as being at the best stage and expressed hopes for increased bilateral cooperation.

Pereira made the comment at a symposium to mark the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, which falls on Thursday. The event was co-hosted by the Institute of Latin American Studies, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Cuban Embassy to China.

He discussed highlights of bilateral exchange and cooperation over the past five decades, especially in recent years. In an educational program set up in 2006, Cuba had trained 2,544 Chinese students in subjects such as Spanish, medicine and tourism.

Two jointly run ophthalmologic hospitals were set up, one in Xining, capital of western Qinghai Province, and the other in Hebiin central Henan province. A third one was to open in March in Datong in north Shanxi Province, according to Rigoberto Enoa, commercial counselor of the embassy.

Bilateral trade had grown from 578 million U.S. dollars in 2003 to 2.6 billion U.S. dollars through 2007.

"China is a secure importer of Cuba's nickel and sugar, and it is becoming a major investor in Cuba," Pereira said.