Obama in Cuba: Raul Castro hosts US president and his family at state dinner in Havana

Cuban President Raúl Castro greeted US President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama to Havana's Palace of the Revolution on Monday (21 March 2016), as part of a state dinner to honour the American leader on his visit to the island.

The dinner came after a historic day for the two countries, with Castro and Obama calling a news conference earlier that day in Havana, where they discussed democracy, human rights and ending the US embargo on the Caribbean nation. Obama is the first US president to visit the communist country since 1959.

Also in attendance at the dinner were US House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, US Secretary of State John Kerry, Cuba's First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel and other leaders and dignitaries from both countries.

The US president appeared to enjoy the musical stylings of local musicians the Failde Youth Band, who performed shortly after the party took their seats. Reports indicate that guests were to be treated to local dishes, including cream soup flavoured with rum and shrimp mousse with mojito.