RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will visit the Cuban capital of Havana on Thursday to meet with the country's leader Raul Castro, presidential spokesman Marcelo Baumbach confirmed Tuesday.

    During the meeting, an agreement on the exploitation of oil off the Cuban coast will be signed between the two nations' state-owned oil and gas companies, Petrobras and Cuba Petroleo.

    It is unknown whether Lula will meet with Fidel Castro, the former Cuban leader. Baumbach said this will depend on the Cuban government's invitation and the senior Castro's health.

    Lula and Fidel Castro have a long history of camaraderie since the 1980s, when the Brazilian president founded the Workers' Partyand established connections with the Cuban government.

    Thursday's trip will be Lula's second one to Cuba this year.