From the BBC:

Cuban President Raul Castro signs deals in China

Cuban President Raul Castro is meeting Chinese leaders in Beijing, signing agreements aimed at deepening already close ties between the two allies.

Mr Castro is due to meet Vice-President Xi Jinping and Vice Premier Li Keqiang, who are widely expected to take over China's top leadership posts.

On Thursday he met President Hu Jintao and signed several co-operation deals.

China pledged to aid Cuba with a new credit line and with health care and technology.

The promises were part of a series of agreements between the two countries, reports said, although no details were given.

Mr Hu urged more co-operation with Cuba on trade, energy, infrastructure construction, agriculture and biotechnology, state-run Xinhua news agency said.

Mr Castro's four-day visit is his first to China since taking over the leadership from his brother, Fidel, in 2008.

The Chinese will be in our backyards soon.