Xinhua China-related world news summary at 1000 GMT, Sept. 25

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived in Havana Saturday for an official visit to Cuba.

Li's trip to Havana is the first official visit to the Caribbean country by a Chinese premier since the two countries established diplomatic ties 56 years ago.

Although China and Cuba are far apart, the hearts of our two peoples are very close to each other, Li said on his arrival. (China-Cuba-Visit)

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HAVANA -- Havana's Confucius Institute, the only certified institution in the island country that teaches the Chinese language and culture, saw an "enrollment explosion" this academic year.

The institute, located in the capital's Chinatown, is part of a growing network of institutions worldwide that receives support from the China National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (Hanban), to promote the Chinese language and culture in other countries. (China-Cuba-Ties)

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CHICAGO -- Hundreds of students from elementary and high schools in Chicago gathered at Whitney Young Magnet High School Saturday to have a sip of traditional Chinese culture at the Chinese Cultural Festival.

Students and their parents crowded into the hall of this prestigious public high school in Chicago, watched traditional Chinese lion dance, Chinese folk dance, and listened to Chinese music and songs. Performance of lion dance and martial arts draw the warmest applause. (US-China-Culture)

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HELSINKI -- China's top legislator said here Saturday the Chinese-Finnish relationship is a model that two countries with different social systems can develop close cooperation which is beneficial for both sides.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, made the remarks in Helsinki during his two-day visit to Finland. (Finland-China-Visit) Endi