Cuban leader Fidel Castro arrived in Tehran Tuesday for talks on expanding Tehran-Havana relations and the latest international developments, as well as avenues to promote the objectives of the Group of 77 countries, reported the Tehran Times newspaper.
Castro, who is heading a high-ranking delegation, will meet with Iran’s spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mohammad Khatami.
In addition to bilateral ties, talks will focus on ways of further expanding economic relations, said the paper.
The eighth Iran-Cuba Joint Commission session is to open soon in Havana, said the paper, adding that Iran had opened a $10 million credit pipeline to Cuba through its Export Promotions Bank to meet Cuba's requirements for Iranian products such as thread, spare parts and ceramics.
Cuba has enjoyed great successes under the Castro regime despite sanctions imposed by the US, said the paper.
According to the paper, Cuba currently enjoys some of the world's highest standards of education, literacy and health. But its close relations with the former Soviet Union and the latter's allies have influenced, to a great extent, its economy and relations with other countries.
“Castro's visit to Iran is to send a message to independent countries of the world that both countries will never accept the idea of a superpower,” said the paper.
Castro is due to visit Malaysia and Qatar on this trip – Albawaba.com
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