Cuban leader leaves Venezuela after signing key trade pact

CARACAS, Venezuela (CNN) -- Cuban President Raul Castro concluded a three-day visit to Venezuela on Monday after signing a major trade accord with Cuba's closest ally in Latin America.

It was Castro's first foreign state visit since being chosen president in February.

He arrived Saturday and was met at Simon Bolivar International Airport by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who lauded the Cuban leader.

Over the weekend, Castro and Chavez signed an agreement for 163 joint projects next year worth $2 billion. In 2008, the two nations had 78 bilateral projects with a value of $355 million, according to the Venezuelan government.

The official visit included stops at the Plaza Bolivar in central Caracas and the National Pantheon.

As he has done with previous visiting dignitaries, Chavez gave Castro a replica of Simon Bolivar's sword. Bolivar is a hero to many for guiding six South American countries to freedom from Spain in the 1800s.

Castro assumed temporary leadership of Cuba in July 2006 after older brother Fidel, who had held power since 1959, fell ill. The National Assembly elected Raul Castro president in February after Fidel Castro said he would not run again.

Upon his departure, Raul Castro headed to Brazil for the Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and Development, which will be held Tuesday and Wednesday.

CNN's Maria Carolina Gonzalez contributed to this report.

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