Beijing - Cuba strengthens socialism and its democratic nature with the new Draft Constitution submitted to debate by all citizens, in and outside the national territory, a prominent Chinese intellectual said on Wednesday.

Professor Xu Shicheng -an expert in Latin American studies at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences- told Prensa Latina that the text demonstrates the island's purpose to maintain a political system capable of guaranteeing sovereignty and respecting the rights of the people.

In his opinion, this is a very important event because it will also strengthen the results reached during the almost six decades of the Cuban Revolution and the progress after the implementation of the socio-economic model.

Xu mentioned among the prominent draft constitutional aspects the ratification of the Cuban Communist Party as the leading force of the State and the property of the people is the main one, even when different forms are recognized.

He also praised its foundation in the Marti, Fidel and Marxist-Leninist ideals.

The Chinese academician also referred to the popular consultation taking place from August 13 to November 15.

Apart from discussions carried out among all sectors of the state, those who work, study or live in other countries also propose change, accession and suppression of some titles and articles of the text, but also express doubts about the drafting of others.

The preliminary draft has 224 articles, 87 more than the present Constitution.

About 11 articles remain in the Constitution, 113 are modified and 13 are eliminated.

The criteria will be returned to the People's Power National Assembly (Parliament) for the drawing up of a law of laws that, if passed in a referendum, it will replace the one in force since 1976.