ALGIERS, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Cuban President Raul Castro began a three-day visit to Algeria on Saturday in a sign of continued warm ties with a country that Cuba helped break free of colonial rule almost half a century ago.

Cuba shipped arms and civilian aid to the rebels of the Algerian National Liberation Front and struck up a close friendship after Algeria's independence in 1962.

The two countries became allies of the Soviet Union and leading members of the Non-Aligned Movement. Raul's brother, former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, visited Algeria seven times, most recently in 2001.

North African OPEC-member Algeria has dropped its one-party political system, opened much of its economy to the outside world and now imports a growing variety of consumer goods.

But relations with its communist-run ally remain warm.

"Algeria and Cuba have stood side by side for half a century, at the front line of the fight for freedom," Algerian government daily El Moudjahid said at the start of Castro's visit.

Algiers and Havana agreed in 2001 to trade Algerian oil and oil products for Cuban medicines, machinery and sugar, although overall commercial exchanges remain limited.

Existing partnerships cover banking, farming and fisheries and this year they agreed to work together to produce vaccines. (Reporting by Tom Pfeiffer; Editing by Angus MacSwan)

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