The new president of Cuba Raul Castro smiles during the Cuban National Assembly session on Sunday. Cuba's National Assembly met Sunday to pick a successor to Fidel Castro, after almost 50 years in power.Photo: AFP

Cuba's new president Raul Castro could usher in changes in economic policy and improved relations with Washington, but his room for manoeuvre could be limited by an orthodox old guard and the still-looming presence of his brother Fidel Castro.
The new head of state elected Sunday by Cuba's National Assembly gave no indication he intended sweeping reforms, and promised to seek the advice of his brother on important matters.
"I accept the responsibility I have been given with the conviction I have repeated often: there is only one Commander in Chief of the Cuban Revolution: Fidel is Fidel and we all know it well."
But Raul Castro, known as a pragmatist who laboured without fanfare for his brother over the past five decades, faces daunting challenges on the economic front and has hinted there is room for incremental change.
"We should never believe that what we have done is perfect," Castro said on Sunday.
With Cuba plagued by paltry wages, aging infrastructure, food shortages and a cumbersome bureaucracy, analysts predict Raul Castro will introduce reforms to open up the state-run economy to more foreign investment.
"Raul is considering making changes that Fidel never would have done," said Brian Latell, a senior research associate of Cuban-American Studies at the University of Miami.
"He will also loosen the economy by allowing some limited market trade," he said.
In the 19 months since he took over as temporary leader, Raul Castro has made some minor adjustments in the economy, but has promised bigger changes.
In his acceptance speech, which he delivered wearing a dark suit instead of the olive green military fatigues preferred by his brother, he said he would begin eliminating some economic restrictions but he did not offer details.
He made it clear however that any changes will take place "within socialism" and that solutions to the country's problems will come "little by little."