The Associated Press
Thursday, December 28, 2000; 8:00 PM

HAVANA –– Cuba and China have signed an agreement to increase military cooperation between the countries, the official Communist Party daily reported Thursday.

The Granma newspaper did not give specifics, saying only that the accord was designed to strengthen "brotherhood and fraternity" between the two communist militaries.

The agreement was signed Wednesday by Gen. Fu Quanyou, a top general for the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and Gen. Alvaro Lopez, a deputy minister of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. The Chinese general is in Cuba for a five-day visit.

Gen. Raul Castro, Cuba's Defense Minister and the younger brother of President Fidel Castro, attended the ceremony.

For three decades, the Soviet military provided Cuba with military training and weaponry. But since the 1991 Soviet collapse, Cuba has moved to increase ties with China.