Venezuela ? Cuban leader Fidel Castro called in to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s radio talk show Tuesday, declaring he’s “more energetic, stronger” and his country is running smoothly without him at the helm.

“I feel good and I’m happy,” Castro said in a phone call to Chavez’s weekday radio program. “I can’t promise that I’ll go over there soon, but, yes, I’m gaining ground.”

The 80-year-old Castro transferred control of Cuba’s government to his brother Raul after undergoing intestinal surgery in July and dropped out of public view, fueling speculation about his condition.

He thanked Chavez for spreading news about his recuperation and complained that his supporters have “the habit, the vice of getting news daily.”