China`s President Hu Jintao on Wednesday was to wrap up a landmark visit to Cuba where he brought millions of dollars in aid and promises of closer trade ties.

The Chinese leader brought 4.5 tonnes of humanitarian aid for victims of three hurricanes that battered Cuba this year, which was handed over late Monday after Hu`s arrival at the Jose Marti International Airport.

China`s President Hu Jintao on Wednesday was to wrap up a landmark visit to Cuba where he brought millions of dollars in aid and promises of closer trade ties.

The Chinese leader brought 4.5 tonnes of humanitarian aid for victims of three hurricanes that battered Cuba this year, which was handed over late Monday after Hu`s arrival at the Jose Marti International Airport.

China and Costa Rica were to launch free trade talks here Monday in a historic visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao at the start of a Latin America tour including Cuba and Peru.

China has increased diplomacy and investment in the region in recent years, with an eye on natural resources and developing markets for manufactured goods and even arms.

HAVANA, Oct 21, 2007 (AFP) - Cubans voted Sunday in the first round of balloting that ultimately could indicate whether Fidel Castro will formally remain communist Cuba's leader, or perhaps opt for a permanent power handover.

Some 38,000 voting precincts opened at 1100 GMT and closed at 2200 GMT, with more than 8.3 million Cubans over the age of 16 eligible to vote for some 15,000 council seats in the Americas' only one-party communist state.

HAVANA, Oct 21, 2007 (AFP) - Cubans went to the polls Sunday in the first round of balloting that ultimately could decide whether Fidel Castro will formally return as the country's leader, or whether his brother Raul will officially succeed him.

Voting got underway here are at 7:00 am (1100 GMT), with more than 8.3 million Cubans over the age of 16 eligible to vote for some 15,000 council seats.

By early 2008, the process is to culminate in the selection of 31 members of the Council of State, which for more than five decades has been led by Fidel Castro.

HAVANA, Oct 20, 2007 (AFP) - Convalescing Cuban leader Fidel Castro slammed US elections Saturday as fraud-plagued contests for millionaires, as he urged countrymen to vote in the Americas' only one-party communist system Sunday.

'Our elections are the antithesis of those held in United States ... There, first you have to be very rich, or have an enormous amount of money behind you,' said Castro, 81, who 15 months ago handed over the reins of power to his brother Raul Castro after major intestinal surgery.

HAVANA, Oct 20, 2007 (AFP) - Convalescing Cuban leader Fidel Castro slammed US elections Saturday as fraud-plagued contests for millionaires, as he urged countrymen to vote in the Americas' only one-party communist system Sunday.

'Our elections are the antithesis of those held in United States ... There, first you have to be very rich, or have an enormous amount of money behind you,' said Castro, 81, who 15 months ago handed over the reins of power to his brother Raul Castro after major intestinal surgery.

WASHINGTON, Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush is to unveil 'new initiatives' to help Cubans and push for democracy in the communist-run nation, the White House said Friday.

Bush is scheduled to speak on Cuba policy at the State Department on Wednesday where he will announce 'new initiatives to help the people of Cuba,' White House spokesman Tony Fratto said Friday.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18, 2007 (AFP) - Malaysia said Thursday it plans to develop a 'halal' meningitis vaccine jointly with Cuba within the next two years.

The 3.6 million ringgit (one million dollar) vaccine is aimed at the thousands of Muslims who are infected with the disease during the annual Haj pilgrimage to Mecca, state news agency Bernama reported.

At present, most meningitis vaccines are produced from pig products, which are considered haram, or forbidden, by Muslims, it said.

HAVANA, Oct 15, 2007 (AFP) - Cuba and Venezuela on Monday agreed to joint projects in oil, metals, tourism and laid the ground for future cooperation in petrochemicals, construction and fishing, officials said.

The accords were signed at a ceremony attended by interim Cuban leader Raul Castro and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, one day after Cuban President Fidel Castro chatted by phone with Chavez on a live television broadcast.