Fidel and Raul Castro meet visiting Japanese FM

HAVANA - Fidel Castro, the leader of Cuban Revolution, and his brother and President of Cuba Raul Castro have had separate meetings with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, local press reported Sunday.

"On Saturday afternoon, the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, met with Japan's Foreign Minister, Mr. Fumio Kishida," said Cuban official daily Juventud Rebelde.

The daily added that "Fidel and the distinguished visitor discussed the relations between Cuba and Japan, as well as other important international issues."

The paper said "the meeting was held in a friendly atmosphere."

President Raul Castro and the Japanese minister "affirmed the positive progress of the ties between the two countries and discussed other topics of common interest on the international agenda."

Before meeting the Castro brothers, Kishida, the first Japanese foreign minister to visit the island, also held talks with his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez and Cuban Vice President Ricardo Cabrisas.

The Japanese foreign minister, who arrived in Cuba on April 30, expressed Tokyo's wish to take relations with Havana to a new level.

Cuba and Japan officially established diplomatic relations in 1929, but the ties were interrupted during Second World War.

Bilateral relations were restored in 1957, two years before the triumph of the Revolution led by Fidel Castro, whose government was recognized by Tokyo in 1959.