Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday started an official three-day visit to Cuba, whose communist-led authorities said the two governments shared similar views on various issues.

Raul Castro, brother and designated successor to President Fidel Castro, greeted Abdullah when he landed in Havana around 2000 GMT.

The two quickly boarded an official motorcade to whisk them into the capital without making any remarks.

Earlier Wednesday, the official Granma daily said: "It is evident there is strong agreement in the two countries' positions on global and multilateral questions."

It said Badawi's visit reflected "the importance both countries give to developing their bilateral relations and strengthening mutual collaboration."

The visiting prime minister was to hold talks with the Cuban president, who has been wheelchair bound since he tripped and broke a knee last month.

First trip as leader

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

He is accompanied by Plantation, Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui, Education Minister Shafie Salleh, Health Minister Chua Soi Lek and deputy minister for foreign affairs Datuk 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.