Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez shows a letter from Cuban President Fidel Castro at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas. AFP PHOTO

Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage on Wednesday delivered the missive signed by Castro to his close ally Chavez, who then flaunted it before television cameras saying, "This is for those who say he's dying."

Chavez declared that, according to Lage, the 80-year-old Castro is "walking more than me, he's almost trotting" like a horse. But that failed to give any insight into the real condition of the veteran Cuban communist to counter widespread speculation that he is fatally ill.

Six months after he dropped from the public eye, little has been heard from Castro, who transferred power provisionally to his brother, Defense Minister Raul Castro, on July 31. That was four days after the Cuban leader went through intestinal surgery and since then rumours range from his being on the road to slow recovery or near death.

Lage's appearance in Caracas with the letter for Chavez made clear Havana wants it known the "Comandante" who has led Cuba for nearly five decades is still alive and keeping his hand in political issues.

Chavez, who has visited the ailing Castro and says he often speaks to him by telephone, said Castro had asked him not to publish his letter, but to read some of it in public nevertheless.

Lage and his delegation, he quoted Castro as writing, "are bringing 17 points (of agreement).... I'm happy with the idea of including the tourist zone in the place you've selected."

"I'm pleased the energy program is going ahead at full speed... it is a vital issue for the human race," Castro wrote, according to Chavez.

But that hardly cleared the air over the state of Castro's health. Unlike previous occasions, Chavez gave no indication of Castro's condition.

US and other officials have suggested Castro has terminal cancer. A Spanish surgeon who visited Castro last month dismissed the theory, but gave no details of his ailment. The hospital where he works, however, said Castro had suffered intestinal hemorrhaging last summer and a severe infection caused by inflammation of the large intestine.

Both Caracas and Havana continue to operate in secrecy. Raul Castro has been only slightly visible in public over the past six months. And, accompanied by several ministers, Lage's trip to Venezuela was publicly announced only moments before he arrived for talks with Chavez.

"Everything that is said is sheer speculation. What is certain is that Cuba feeds the rumours," said a Latin American diplomat in Havana.

Chavez and Lage said Wednesday Castro was watching them on television from his bed as they signed 15 agreements for closer cooperation, notably in areas of tourism and telecommunications.

"How are you Fidel?" Chavez called out in English, prodding officials from both countries to give applause to Castro via the cameras.

After reading the Cuban leader's letter, Chavez said: "Full steam ahead, Caballo," using his nickname for Castro meaning "horse".

"We all need you, that's how much we love you."