Panama: Obama and Castro share handshake ahead of historic meeting

US President Barack Obama and the President of the Council of State of Cuba Raul Castro shook hands before the opening ceremony of the Summit of the Americas in Panama City, Friday evening. Both leaders are expected to hold an historic meeting on Saturday, on the sidelines of the summit, which many have seen as a bid to improve relations following decades of animosity between both countries. It was the first time that a Cuban leader attended the Summit of the Americas since its inception in 1994. Obama and Castro reportedly exchanged a few words, accompanied by UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, before taking their seats for the opening ceremony. It is the second time that Obama and Castro have publicly shook hands, with both leaders meeting previously at Nelson Mandela's memorial service in Johannesburg in 2013. Video courtesy of host broadcaster pool.