BBC News Online. Tuesday, 27 March, 2001, 22:27 GMT 23:27 UK

The presidents of South Africa and Cuba, Thabo Mbeki and Fidel Castro, have signed a number of bilateral agreements during talks in the Cuban capital, Havana.

Mr Mbeki arrived on the island on Monday on what is the first visit by a South African head of state.

The two leaders are discussing increased cooperation in a variety of fields, notably the economy, education and health.

Cuba has offered to provide cheap drugs to South Africa to help combat the HIV and AIDS epidemic.

Mr Castro has threatened to defy multinational drug companies by ignoring their patents for AIDS drugs and producing them at a fraction of the cost for developing countries.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service

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