BEIJING -- China and Cuba share a fraternal friendship, tested by difficult times and based on faith and trust, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said here Tuesday.

Liu Yunshan, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, met with a delegation of the Communist Party of Cuba headed by Salvador Valdes Mesa, Member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba.

Liu said the Chinese side firmly supports the ruling party and government of Cuba. He said China is ready to work with Cuba to fully implement the consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cuban President Raul Castro during Xi's visit to Cuba last year.

Liu said the two sides should reinforce and expand traditional friendship and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas.

Liu pointed out that the CPC places importance on friendly relations with the Communist Party of Cuba. He expressed readiness to strengthen exchanges between the two political parties. He called for the two sides to carry out more extensive exchange of experience on governance so as to add impetus to China-Cuba friendship.

Valdes, also Vice President of the Council of State of Cuba, said the two countries enjoy a comprehensive strategic partnership. He said close contact between party officials and exchange of experience helped lay a solid foundation for relations between the two countries.

Valdes expressed full confidence in advancing Cuba-China relations in a comprehensive way.