Beijing, NU Online
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says China will expand cooperation in oil exploration and help his country build a fiber-optic communications network under agreements due to be signed when he visits Beijing this week.
The visit by the left-leaning Chavez comes amid growing oil sales to China, which wants to access to Latin American energy sources for its booming economy.
<>Chavez arrived in Beijing early Wednesday on a trip that will also take him to Angola and Malaysia.The Venezuelan government said in a statement Tuesday that Chavez will meet with President Hu Jintao and with Premier Wen Jiabao, among others. He is also to visit the city of Ji Nan, it said
The Chinese government did not confirm who Chavez will meet. It did say that he will receive an official welcome Thursday at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, the seat of China’s parliament.
Chavez has forged strong ties with Beijing since taking office in 1998. He said last week that he will buy Chinese-made tankers and seal an oil exploration deal.
“We’re going to sign a series of agreements for another leap in energy cooperation,” Chavez said.
He noted that will include accords for China to begin extra-heavy oil production in Venezuela’s Orinoco River basin and to jointly develop the eastern Zumano oil and gas fields.
Chavez said that under other agreements to be signed during the five-day visit, China will help his country build a fiber-optic communications network, rehabilitate a gold mine and cooperate in developing railways and farm irrigation systems.
According to the Boliviarian News Agency, Venezuela has also struck a euro 945 million (US$1.22 billion) deal with China to build 20,000 homes over the next two years in the South American country.
Venezuelan housing minister Ramon Carrizales and vice president of China Citic Group, Liang Chuanxin, signed the deal, which will be 75 percent financed by Chinese capital, ABN said in a statement late Monday.
The world’s No. 5 oil exporter, Venezuela now sells 150,000 barrels of crude, fuel oil and other petroleum products a day to China, which is looking to Latin American for new energy sources to fuel its booming economy. Venezuela says it plans to increase the amount to 200,000 barrels this year.
Chavez said he also plans to reach a deal to buy 12 Chinese-made oil drills and to assemble 12 more in Venezuela at a new, jointly owned factory. (ap/dar)