Fidel Castro meets Japanese FM in Havana

Cuba's former president Fidel Castro has met with Japan's foreign minister, Fumio Kishida, local media reported.

Kishida, who on Sunday wrapped up the first visit to Cuba by a Japanese foreign minister, met the ailing revolutionary icon a day earlier at Castro's home east of the capital Havana, the Juventud Rebelde newspaper reported.

"Fidel and the distinguished guest spoke about the ties and relations between Cuba and Japan and held an exchange on important themes from the international arena," the state-controlled newspaper said.

Local media did not publish photos of the meeting, held in the 88-year-old Castro's home.

Kishida also met with Castro's brother, Cuban President Raul Castro, on Saturday.

Kishida said Japan supports US and Cuban efforts to normalize relations and that Tokyo wants to take its own ties with Havana to "a new level."

Fidel Castro makes few public appearances. On March 30, after an absence of 14 months, he met with a group of young visitors from Venezuela.

Kishida returned to Japan on Sunday, according to an official schedule.