Cuba re-elects Raul Castro

China congratulated Cuban leader Raul Castro on his re-election as the first secretary of the Central Committee of Communist Party of Cuba Wednesday.

At a news conference, Spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that as a leader, Raul is deeply supported and loved by the Cuban people, and that Raul is also deeply respected by Chinese people.

"We believe that with the leadership of president Raul, Cuba will make more achievements in the construction of Cuba's socialism career," Hua said.

On Tuesday, Castro was re-elected the first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) Central Committee at the final plenary session of PCC's seventh Congress.

Latin American news agency Prensa Latina reports that Raul was re-elected by nearly 1,000 delegates at the meeting, including the leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro, his elder brother.

Raul served as the first secretary of the PCC since the last Congress was held in 2011, when he replaced his elder brother Fidel.

Fidel Castro directed PCC's political organization since its founding in 1965. A severe illness forced him to leave office in 2006.

The 7th PCC Congress, with 1,000 delegates and 280 guests in attendance, was held from Saturday to Tuesday. During the meeting, the delegates discussed and approved reform guidelines that will last until 2021, which were advocated by Raul Castro and aimed to shape Cuba's economic and social course, as well as the national development plan until 2030.