HAVANA, Jan. 17 -- Visiting senior Chinese legislator Chen Changzhi met here on Friday with Cuban leaders, vowing to boost ties between the two countries.

During the meeting with Cuba's National Assembly President Esteban Lazo, the vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China said that his country has been keenly following Cuba's current economic "modernization" drive, and hoping it progresses successfully.

Both Cuba and China, as their governments have been founded on socialist principles, should maintain bilateral ties at the highest level so as to increasingly consolidate their mutual trust, Chen stressed.

Chen and Lazo also ratified "the friendship that has united the two countries for many years, transcending the test of time."

China is Cuba's second largest trading partner after Venezuela.

For his part, Lazo said Cuba considered its ties with China to be of a "priority and strategic" character.

Lazo, also a member of the politburo of Cuban Communist Party, urged the continuation of regular contact and exchange between the two parties, governments and parliaments.

On the same day, Chen also met with Miguel Diaz-Canel, first vice president of the Council of State and the two leaders discussed the current economic and social situation in China and Cuba.