Cuban leader meets with Turkish president on ties

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) shakes hands with Cuba's President Raul Castro during a meeting in Havana's Revolution Palace February 11, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

HAVANA - Cuban President Raul Castro on Wednesday met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the first Turkish president to pay a state visit to the Latin American country in almost two decades, state daily Granma reported.

The two leaders "confirmed their willingness to continue to deepen ties and strengthen dialogue between the two nations," the daily said, adding that they also discussed international affairs.

Prior to their meeting, the Turkish president laid a wreath at a monument to Cuban hero Jose Marti at Havana's Revolution Square, and visited his memorial.

Havana and Ankara established diplomatic ties in 1952, and currently cooperate in the spheres of economy, tourism, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

Erdogan's three-nation tour in Latin America took him first to Colombia and will take him to Mexico from Cuba.