Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro gave the thumbs up to the 60th National Day celebrations in Beijing in an article entitled "History Cannot Be Ignored," which appeared in the Cuban daily Juventud Rebelde on Wednesday.

Castro, who left office in 2006 due to an extended illness, cheered the enormous progress achieved by China in the past 60 years.

He spoke highly of the National Day military parade at Tiananmen Square in China's capital Beijing, saying the armored vehicles and civilian floats that paraded at Tiananmen Square were extremely impressive.

Castro also said President Hu Jintao's speech had clearly revealed that during the last 60 years of development and progress, "only reform and openness can allow China to develop."

(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2009)