The top U.S. and Cuban diplomats have met in Panama in the highest-level meeting between the two governments in more than half a century.


The U.S. State Department says Secretary of State Kerry and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez met on Thursday evening in Panama City, where the Summit of the Americas kicks off on Friday.


Officials described the meeting as lengthy. They say that Kerry and Rodriguez agreed that they had made progress and would keep working to address ongoing issues.


No additional information about their meeting was immediately available.


Both President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro are attending the summit. The two leaders had no formal meetings scheduled but were expected to interact on the sidelines of the summit.