Chavez eyes China, Russia, more on "strategic"-interest tour

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday sets out on a tour he has said holds "great strategic interest," with stops in China, Russia, Cuba, Belarus, Portugal and France. "This is a trip of great strategic importance for us," Chavez said late Friday, stressing that the countries he plans to visit from September 21-27 "have great potential that we are joining to Venezuela's potential." While his official agenda has not been made public lawmakers approved the trip to "strengthen international relations with those countries and sign exchange and cooperation deals on economic, social and cultural matters." Chavez will first travel to close ally Cuba, and then to China, which Chavez calls a strategic ally, for the capitalization of a six-billion-dollar bilateral investment fund. He says Caracas will use it for "socialist productive projects." China is contributing four billion dollars and Venezuela two billion dollars, said Chavez, who is to meet with Chinese President Hu JinTao. While in China Chavez could firm up his announced plans to buy 24 K-8 Chinese training and combat planes, which could be part of Venezuela's air force next year. Chavez, a staunch foe of the US government, 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. Last week, 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. The Venezuelan leader will then travel to Belarus, and on to France, where he will meet with President Nicolas Sarkozy, who he refers to as a friend. 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.