HAVANA: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cuba late Monday, officials said, the last stop on a Latin American tour that has stressed trade and aid more than ideology.
"Inside Jose Marti International airport, Xi was welcomed by first Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel and diplomats from the Chinese mission here," Cuba's state news agency Prensa Latina reported.
Xi arrived from Caracas for a two-day official visit to the Americas' only one-party communist nation.
The Chinese leader is looking to bolster trade and cooperation with Cuba. Beijing already is Cuba's number-two trade partner after Venezuela, and its top source of credit.
Xi -- who has visited Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela on this trip -- has a meeting scheduled with President Raul Castro, 83, at the Palace of the Revolution Tuesday. The two leaders are expected to sign bilateral agreements but there has been no advance word on their focus.
On Wednesday, Xi will visit Santiago de Cuba, the country's second-largest city which was hard hit in October 2012 by Hurricane Sandy. The storm killed 11 people and destroyed 17,000 homes and damaged thousands more. Many believe Xi will announce Chinese cooperation in the city, perhaps in rebuilding housing.
The Chinese leader also could pay a visit to retired revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, 87, who led Cuba for five decades. He stepped aside eight years ago during a health crisis. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited with the elder statesman on a visit to Cuba 10 days ago.
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