WASHINGTON, May 14 (Xinhua) -- John Ratcliffe, director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), met with Cuban officials in Havana on Thursday over "intelligence cooperation, economic stability, and security issues," NBC News reported, citing a CIA official.

Ratcliffe met with Cuban officials, including Raul Castro's grandson, Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, Interior Minister Lazaro Alvarez Casas and the head of Cuba's intelligence services.

Ratcliffe visited Cuba "to personally deliver President (Donald) Trump's message that the United States is prepared to seriously engage on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba makes fundamental changes," said the CIA official.

Earlier on Thursday, the Cuban government issued a statement confirming that the meetings took place at Washington's request. ■