MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chinese buses and trains for Cuba

Cuba received twelve locomotives and the first 80 out of a total 1,000 buses purchased from China, an operation involving 100 million US dollars.

The official newspaper "Granma" said Monday that the new 2,500 hp railway engines will be the most modern and efficient in the country's system.

Of the thousand buses to be received by Cuba, 700 built by Yutong will be incorporated to the island's long-distance transport services.

Bilateral trade between Cuba and China has been steadily increasing totalling 524 million US dollars in 2004, of which 330 million Chinese exports and 194 million, Cuban sales.

China has rapidly become Cuba's second largest trade partner behind Venezuela.