Chavez visit to China ends

CHINA: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez ended a work visit to China and returned home Thursday, following his Asia tour that included Qatar, Iran and Japan.

The statesman held working sessions with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping who paid an official visit to Venezuela last February.

Xi promised closer bilateral cooperation in energy, agriculture, infrastructure and advanced-technology.

Chavez lauded China's economic strength amid the current global crisis, stating that bilateral cooperation is strong in several areas.

He pledged official will to further boost cooperation with China in the context of the present world financial situation.

During his stay, Chavez discussed the state of investments of Chinese oil companies in Venezuela, and called to set up joint refining companies in China and for the funding and creation of a joint oil shipping company. Beijing, Friday, Prensa Latina