“With Obama, one can talk whenever he wants, because we're not preachers of violence or war," Mr Castro wrote in an essay published on December 5 on a state-run Web site.

Friday's missive marked the second time in recent weeks that a Cuban leader has said he is open to meeting with Obama.

In the latest issue of The Nation, actor Sean Penn writes of his recent conversation in Havana with Raúl Castro, who took over as president this year from his ailing brother.

According to Penn, Raúl Castro is willing to meet with Mr Obama to settle difference between the two countries.

During his presidential election campaign, Mr Obama said he was also willing to hold dialogue with Cuban leaders despite a US-imposed trade embargo.