Cuba's Castro congratulates new Chinese leader

HAVANA: Cuban leader Raul Castro congratulated new Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, citing the socialist ties between the longtime allies.

"I extend my warmest congratulations" to Xi, Castro said in a message read on state television. "We are convinced that under your leadership, this sister country will achieve new successes in building socialism."

China is Cuba's second-largest trading partner after Venezuela, and a vital source of credit for the cash-strapped communist island.

The Chinese parliament earlier named Xi as president four months after he took charge of the Communist Party.