Panama City, April 10 (RHC) — Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry have held talks, in the highest level meeting between the two countries in more than half a century.

The two held closed-door discussions after arriving in Panama for the ongoing Summit of the Americas.

"Secretary Kerry and Cuban Foreign Minister Rodriguez had a lengthy and very constructive discussion this evening. The two agreed they made progress and that we would continue to work to resolve outstanding issues," a senior US official said after the meeting.

The meeting came shortly after the US state department recommended that Cuba be removed from its list of states said to sponsor terrorism.

US President Barack Obama and Cuban leader Raul Castro are also due to meet on the sidelines of the Summit of the Americas in Panama over the coming days.