Cuban leader Fidel Castro and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez held a meeting to discuss regional integration and international affairs, Cuban media reported Friday. Thursday's two-and-a-half hour meeting was “an expression of the deep friendship uniting our peoples and leaders,” according to an official statement published in two Cuban newspapers. Chavez is in Cuba for the fourth summit of Petrocaribe, an initiative he created to provide oil to Caribbean neighbors at preferential prices. The Venezuelan leader opened the summit Friday together with acting Cuban President Raul Castro in the southeastern city of Cienfuegos, where Chavez was also to inaugurate a refinery to be operated by both countries. Chavez has visited Castro nine times since the long-time Cuban leader “temporarily” stepped down from office following intestinal surgery 17 months ago.
