Cuba's former leader Fidel Castro looked well during his meeting at home with French-Spanish writer and journalist Ignacio Ramonet, whose book on former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has made a hit, local media reported Monday.

The meeting on Friday marked the 19th anniversary of Castro's first meeting with Chavez, a great Latin American reformer.

Castro and Ramonet talked for more than two hours about the book "Hugo Chavez, My First Life" and other matters, Cuba's Prensa Latina news agency reported. The author later told the Associate Press that Castro was healthy and alert.

Castro first met Chavez on Dec. 13, 1994. The two developed a strong bond based on their shared perspective on Latin American development and integration.

Castro and Ramonet also discussed recent local elections in Venezuela and other political and environmental issues.

In 2006, Ramonet published "One Hundred hours with Fidel", a book on Castro, 87, based on his conversations with the leader.

Castro governed Cuba from 1959, when his revolutionary movement succeeded in ousting dictator Fulgencio Batista, until 2006, when a serious intestinal illness forced him to step down.

Castro is rarely seen in public these days. However, according to a photo accompanying the story, Castro, who was dressed in a blue track suit, looked well in his meeting with Ramonet. Endit

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