Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez arrived in Cuba late on Sunday to meet with former Cuban president Fidel Castro as Caracas’ firebrand leader sets out on a tour that includes China, Russia, Portugal and France.
He was greeted at Jose Marti International Airport by Cuban President Raul Castro, who wore his customary military uniform. In an article published Sunday in Cuba’s state-run press, Castro, 82, said the one-hour meeting with his close friend Chavez will be “a great honor for me.” The meeting follows a tete-a-tete between the two leftist leaders in June.
Chavez had been authorized by the legislature to stop in Belarus as well, but said Sunday in his Hello Mr. President weekly broadcast that he would not be traveling there, without explaining why.
Chavez has said his travels hold “great strategic interest,” for his country. Venezuelan lawmakers approved his week-long tour, designed to “strengthen international relations with those countries and sign exchange and cooperation deals on economic, social and cultural matters.”
After his stop in Cuba, Chavez travels to China for talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) on the capitalization of a US$6 billion bilateral investment fund which he says Caracas will use for “socialist productive projects.”
China is contributing US$4 billion and Venezuela US$2 billion, Chavez said.
While in China Chavez could firm up announced plans for Venezuela’s purchase of 24 K-8 Chinese training and combat planes, which could be part of Venezuela’s air force next year.
Chavez will then head to Moscow. Caracas in recent years has been broadening its military ties to Moscow, and Chavez backed Russia in the recent Georgian conflict.
Earlier this month, Russian supersonic Tu-160 heavy bombers for the first time flew training runs with Venezuela in an area of the Caribbean traditionally considered the US military’s sphere of influence.
Caracas and Moscow have naval maneuvers planned for the Caribbean in November or December.
Chavez will then travel to France, where he will meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
On the last stop in Portugal, Chavez will sign agreements on housing and computer technology. Portugal is a partner in natural gas projects in Venezuela.
Chavez will also purchase 50,000 prefabricated homes in Portugal, and is seeking to sign a deal to build a factory for prefab homes in Venezuela.
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