Visiting Cuban President Raul Castro Thursday hailed the joint efforts made by his country and Brazil to boost political understanding, social justice and human dignity in Latin America, Cuba's Prensa Latina news agency reported.

He made the remarks during a luncheon held at Itamaraty Palace, the seat of the Brazilian Foreign Ministry

Castro said Cubans and Brazilians share identical views on defending international laws, multilateralism and rights of self-determination.

He also voiced his country's gratitude for the help offered by Brazil in the wake of the three devastating hurricanes that hit Cuba this year.

Earlier, while posing for pictures, he said European politicians "shake hands, smile, but do not have fraternal relations like us."

Castro is on his first overseas trip since taking office in February. Before coming to Brasilia, he visited Venezuela and then went to Brazil's seaside resort of Costa do Sauipe to attend the first Summit of Latin America and the Caribbean on Integration and Development.