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Chilean president meets "agile, active" Fidel Castro

Other News Materials 13 February 2009 22:26 (UTC +04:00)

Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who has not been seen in public since 2006, was "very agile and active," said Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Cuban media reported Friday, dpa reported.

"He is in very good condition, we talked for long," Bachelet told reporters late Thursday after the meeting.

"Someone who spends an hour and a half talking (is) well, very well, very agile, active as always," said the Chilean president, a doctor by training.

Castro, who is reportedly recovering from an unspecified illness at a secret location, and Bachelet discussed bilateral trade and the challenges that Latin American countries are facing amid the widening global economic crisis.

The meeting was not planned. According to Chilean media reports, Cuban President Raul Castro sought out Bachelet while she was attending an event to honour late Chilean president Salvador Allende.

Allende was the last Chilean president to visit Cuba, in 1972.

Following her meeting with Fidel, Bachelet delivered a lecture at Havana University and later opened the Havana International Book Fair.

On Wednesday the socialist Bachelet met Raul Castro for talks on improving political and economic ties between their countries.

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