Havana  - Cuban President Raul Castro held his first talks with a US congressional delegation since taking office a little more than a year ago, Cuban state television reported.

No details about Monday's talks were released.

The seven-member delegation of Democrats was in Havana to explore ways of improving US-Cuban relations as US President Barack Obama, also a Democrat, was expected to lift some of the restrictions the United States imposed on the island almost 50 years ago.

Revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, the president's brother, wrote in a commentary released Monday that Cuba was not afraid of dialogue with the United States.

The delegation also met with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Barrilla and parliamentary President Ricardo Alarcon.

Barbara Lee, the delegation head, said the trip came about because the world expected changes in US foreign policy under Obama.

Last week, the US Senate introduced a bill lifting travel restrictions for US citizens to Cuba. (dpa)