Lula Meets Wednesday with Fidel Castro

HAVANA TIMES, Feb. 24 — Brazil’s President Lula da Silva meets with Fidel Castro on Wednesday in Havana after arriving Tuesday from Cancun, Mexico for an official visit.  He is also expected to meet with President Raul Castro.

Presidential spokesperson Marcelo Baumbach said that during his stay in Cuba, Lula will visit the port of Mariel, west of the capital, where part of a US $950 million loan to Cuba is being invested, reported IPS.

The local press reported on Wednesday that the trip is Lula’s fourth to the island during his eight years in office.  Cuba has growing trade and economic ties with Brazil and 626 young Brazilians have graduated from Cuban universities and technical schools.  Currently 835 Brazilians are studying on scholarships on the island, many at the Latin American Medical School.