Cuban leader Fidel Castro will "without doubt" return to work soon after a successful surgery, the country's former ambassador to China told Xinhua in an exclusive interview on Monday.

"I am sure that Fidel will make an appearance during the Non-Aligned Countries' Summit, although he will not preside over the whole conference," said Jose Guerra, now an advisor to Cuba's Foreign Ministry.

Castro, who turns 80 on Aug. 13, handed over power last week to Raul Castro, who is the country's defense minister, following an operation on July 31 to stop intestinal bleeding.

"You can be sure that Fidel is recovering and will be all well in the not-too-distant future," said Guerra.

"Fidel is an insatiable worker, who relaxes by talking, as (Colombian writer) Gabriel Garcia Marquez said," he said, recalling Castro's earlier swift recovery from a broken leg.

Guerra said that the Cubans were well prepared for any military intervention by the United States, the Caribbean island's near neighbor that has blockaded the island economically since 1962.

"The Americans need to know that what is happening inside the country does not affect the nation's defense," he said.

Guerra described Raul Castro as "a great leader, a very hardworking man who is dedicated to his task."

Source: Xinhua