VietNamNet Bridge - Cuban President Raul Castro arrived in Caracas on Saturday for a brief visit to Venezuela on his first overseas trip since assuming office in February.

Cuban President Raul Castro (L) arrived in Caracas, December 13, 2008, for a brief visit to Venezuela on his first overseas trip since assuming office in February.

Castro was met at the airport by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Castro was to lay a wreath at a statue of Venezuela’s independence hero Simon Bolivar in Plaza Bolivar in downtown Caracas. Then he will hold talks with Chavez at the presidential palace and attend the closing ceremony of the 11th inter-governmental mixed committee between the two countries.

After Venezuela, Castro is expected to head to a summit of leaders of Latin American and Caribbean countries scheduled for Dec. 16 in Brazil.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet