Former Cuban president Fidel Castro Tuesday told a top ranking Chinese Communist Party official that he was looking forward to the 110-metre hurdle duel between athletes from their two countries at the Beijing Olympics in August. ( dpa )
The meeting was the latest in a series of diplomatic meetings for the retired revolutionary leader over the past week.
State officials said the two men met in a "warm and fraternal atmosphere."
He Guoqiang, who is a member of China's Communist Party Politburo, met on Monday with Cuban President Raul Castro, Fidel's brother who took over the reins of power earlier this year from the ailing leader.
The meeting was the fourth diplomatic encounter for Fidel, 81, over the past week. He also met with his close confidante, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, and Uruguayan leader Tabare Vazquez.
China has invited Fidel Castro to attend the Olympics in August.
Castro said he was sure China would have "brilliant games" and noted his anticipation of the 110-metre-hurdle duel between runners Liu Xiang of China and world record holder Dayron Robles of Cuba.
After Venezuela, China is the second largest trade partner of Cuba.
Just last week, Cuban state television aired the first new images of Fidel Castro in five months. Castro has only been seen rarely in public since he handed over temporary power to brother Raul in July 2006, a move that became permanent in February.