Cuba's First Vice President Raul Castro Ruz welcomed Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is paying an official visit to Cuba. Both leaders held official talks at Havana's Revolution Palace.

Following the meeting, Cuba and Brazil signed ten important accords in the fields of oil exploration, agriculture, biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry.

The encounter was also attended by Cuban Vice-president Carlos Lage; Basic Industry Minister Yadira Garcia; Fernando Remirez de Estenoz, member of the Secretariat of Cuba's Communist Party Central Committee; Foreing Minister Felipe Perez Roque; the president of Cuba's Central Bank Francisco Soberon and Cuban ambassador to Brazil Pedro Nuñez, among other government officials.

The Brazilian delegation was made up of Foreign Minister Celso Amorin; the Minister of Development, trade and Industries, Miguel Jorge; Education Minister Fernando Haddad and Health Minister Jose Gomez. Also present were the president of Petrobras oil company Jose Sergio Gabrielli, Special Advisor to the Presidency on International Affairs Marco Aurelio Garcia, the Brazilian ambassador to Havana Bernardo Pericas.

Lula da Silva and his delegation arrived in Havana Monday evening for an official visit. He laid Tuesday a floral wreath at the monument of Cuban National Hero Jose Marti, at the Revolution Square.

The distinguished visitors are expected to visit the Havana-based Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center and other places of social interest.

(Cuba News Agency)