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Castro on first presidential trip Castro on first presidential trip
(1 day later)
Cuba's President Raul Castro has arrived in Venezuela at the start of his first overseas trip as president. Cuba's President Raul Castro has held talks in Venezuela, during his first overseas trip since taking over from his brother Fidel earlier this year.
The Cuban leader, 77, took over the presidency from his brother, Fidel Castro, earlier this year. The Cuban leader met his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez, a key ally of the communist-run island state and a long-time admirer of Fidel Castro.
He is meeting Venezuela's socialist President Hugo Chavez, a key ally of the communist-run island state and a long-time admirer of Fidel Castro. After their meeting, the two leaders presided over the signing of a series of joint energy and commercial deals.
Raul Castro was due to visit the tomb of Venezuelan independence hero, Simon Bolivar, and sign bilateral deals. Mr Castro offered Mr Chavez and the Venezuelan people "a hug" from Fidel.
Welcoming the Cuban leader, Mr Chavez described Mr Castro as one of the heroes of Cuba's revolution. The visit comes only a few weeks ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Cuban revolution, and Mr Chavez said this trip carried "the same importance" as Fidel Castro's first international visit - also to Venezuela - after claiming victory in 1959.
The visit comes only a few weeks ahead of the 50th anniversary of the revolution, and Mr Chavez has said this trip carries "the same importance" as Fidel Castro's first international visit - also to Venezuela - after claiming victory in 1959. 'A better world'
"We give you the most fervent welcome," Mr Chavez told his visitor. The two men announced over 300 joint projects in health, education, culture and sport.
"You, one of the men behind the great Cuban revolution. Your visit is an honour for us, Raul. We receive you and with you Fidel Castro and the Cuban people." In a speech, Raul Castro praised the close relationship between the two nations, drawing attention to Venezuela's social programmes in health and education which use Cuban expertise.
Bilateral ties I bring a greeting to all the Venezuelan people, an embrace from the Cuban people and the chief of the revolution, comrade Fidel Castro Raul Castro
Mr Castro spoke of his previous visits to Venezuela as a student admirer of Bolivar, known as "the liberator" for his exploits in securing independence from Spain for Venezuela and other Latin American nations. He called a regional trade agreement - in which Venezuelan oil is offered to member states at preferential rates - an instrument for Latin America and the Caribbean to move away from neoliberal trade policies.
"We arrived in Caracas and before doing anything else we went to pay homage to the liberator, Simon Bolivar," he said of his visit as a younger man. Cuba receives around 90, 000 barrels of Venezuelan oil every day under this arrangement. It was proof, Mr Castro said, that a better world was possible.
"Today, we shall do the same and I bring a greeting to all the Venezuelan people, an embrace from the Cuban people and the chief of the revolution, comrade Fidel Castro." Aside from the symbolic nature of the visit, the two leaders discussed joint strategies to combat the global economic crisis, particularly the low oil price.
Aside from the symbolic nature of the visit, the two leaders are likely to discuss joint strategies to combat the global economic crisis, particularly the low oil price. Some economists suggest the falling price of oil will have a serious impact on Venezuela's ability to assist its allies by supplying them with cheap fuel.
Cuba receives around 100,000 barrels of Venezuelan oil every day under a regional economic arrangement. The Venezuelan government denies the claim and says the economy is in good shape.
Ahead of the visit, the two men announced over 300 joint projects in health, education, culture and sport - all of it using Cuban expertise paid for by cheap Venezuelan oil, says the BBC's Will Grant, in Venezuela. The BBC's Will Grant in Caracas says that, either way, both men will be keen to see their close relationship continue, for economic and ideological reasons.
The two men are also expected to discuss Mr Chavez's campaign to change the constitution in Venezuela in order to allow him to stand for office as often as he likes. Presents
But this visit is likely to be as much about symbolic gestures as anything else ahead of key anniversaries for both countries, our correspondent says. The two leaders visited the tomb of the South American independence hero, Simon Bolivar.
Mr Chavez presented the Cuban leader with a gold-plated replica of a sword that had belonged to Bolivar.
In return, Raul Castro gave Mr Chavez a photograph of himself taken during his years as a guerrilla leader.
The two men are also believed to have discussed Mr Chavez's campaign to change the constitution in Venezuela in order to allow him to stand for office as often as he likes.
Mr Chavez marks 10 years in office as president in February.Mr Chavez marks 10 years in office as president in February.