BEIJING, June 5 -- Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao met here on Thursday with Yuniasky Crespo, first secretary of the National Committee of the Communist Youth Union of Cuba.

Li, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), expressed hope for closer inter-party ties and bilateral relations between the two nations.

Noting that Cuba was the first Latin American country to establish diplomatic ties with China, Li said he expects the two parties to learn from each other on the experience of governing party and state, so as to promote the cause of socialist development.

He also called on young people in the two countries to reinforce understanding, so as to carry on the bilateral traditional friendship.

Crespo said the Communist Youth Union of Cuba would like to expand exchanges and cooperation with its Chinese counterpart, and contribute to friendship between the two peoples.