Fidel Castro in very good shape: Chilean president

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-13 11:32

HAVANA-- Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro is "in very good shape," Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said after meeting with him Thursday in Havana.

Chile's President Michelle Bachelet (L) talks to Cuba's President Raul Castro during the inauguration of the International Book Fair in Havana February 12, 2009. [Agencies]

"It has been a pleasurable meeting, very important and of very high level, and the truth is that I think it was very positive," Bachelet told reporters at the University of Havana, referring to her meeting with Castro on the second day of her official visit to Cuba.

"As always, Fidel Castro (is) very interested in Chilean issues...(He is) interested in the unemployment issues, (and in) areas where we have succeeded, like the grape-wine sector, the development of our economy," she added.

Bachelet said the meeting was "a dialogue (that is) very important for the challenges before the region," especially those faced by Latin American countries in the context of the international credit crisis.

She added that the two sides shared views on how to strengthen commercial exchanges and to improve entry into different markets.