Cuban President Raul Castro met with the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and 1996 Nobel Peace laureate Jose Manuel Ramos-Horta who is on an official visit in Cuba.
After the welcoming ceremony held at the Palace of the Revolution on Friday, both statesmen reaffirmed the excellent state of bilateral relations and their willingness to strengthen them.
They also discussed several international issues.
A team of Cuban doctors is organizing the health system in this small South East Asian island state, besides providing medical and training Timorese young doctors.
Raul Castro expressed gratitude to President Ramos-Horta for the Timor-Leste Order in Grand Collar degree his country government bestowed to the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro.
Ramos-Horta was also honored for receiving the Jose Marti Order, the highest decoration given by Cuba. Timor Leste Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Zacarias da Costa, Cuban Vice President Esteban Lazo, and acting Foreign Minister Marcelino Medina also attended the meeting.