Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today wrapped up a two-day official visit to Cuba, during which he exchanged views with President Fidel Castro and other Cuban leaders.

Abdullah was seen off at Havana's Jose Marti international airport by General Raul Castro, the president's brother, who had also welcomed the Malaysian premier when he arrived here on Wednesday.

During his visit, Abdullah met with President Castro, who bestowed on him with the Jose Marti medal of honor, Cuba's highest award.

Both goverments stressed strong agreement on global and multilateral issues.

First trip as leader

Abdullah already had visited the Caribbean island as foreign minister in 1998, but this was his first trip as head of the Malaysian government and president of the Non-Aligned Movement.

He was accompanied by Plantation, Industries and Commodities Minister Peter Chin Fah Kui, Education Minister Shafie Salleh, Health Minister Chua Soi Lek and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Joseph Salang Gandum.

Castro, who heads the only communist government in the western hemisphere, last traveled to Malaysia in 2003 to attend a Non-Aligned Movement summit, and before that in May 2001.