Cuban President Fidel Castro Ruz sent a congratulatory message to Chinese leaders on Wednesday to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of Cuba-China diplomatic relations, state-run daily Granma said on Wednesday.

In his message addressed to Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, Castro highlighted the links of solidarity and mutual support between the two countries.

On behalf of the Cuban people, the Communist Party and the Cuban government, Castro said that "We deeply appreciate with satisfaction that along these four and a half decades our relations have been marked by solidarity, respect for ideals and principles of socialism and mutual support, whenever circumstances have demanded it."

"Once more we express our satisfaction over the huge advances attained in China in every aspect, as well as our satisfaction over the consolidation of our relations in various areas," the Cuban leader said.

Castro also wished prosperity, health, progress and welfare to the Chinese people and leaders.

On September 28, 1960, Cuba became the first Latin American country to establish diplomatic relations with China.

The daily said Cuba recognizes the People's Republic of China as the sole and legitimate representative of the Chinese people, and recognizes China's peaceful foreign policy and its "one country, two systems" reunification policy.

According to the daily, in 2004 the two countries signed 16 agreements on cooperation on sanitary controls, biotechnology, education, health, agriculture, meteorology, telecommunications and electronics.

Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque also sent a congratulatory message on the occasion to his Chinese counterpart Li Zhaoxing.

In the message, Perez Roque expressed satisfaction over the fraternal links between the two nations and vowed to further strengthen them.

(Xinhua News Agency September 29, 2005)