Venezuelan President Chavez Visits Vietnam, Signs Energy Deal
Shaveta Bansal - All Headline News Staff Writer Hanoi, Vietnam (AHN) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez arrived in Vietnam on Monday, pledging a vow to work together in oil, gas, mining and agriculture. The two-day visit to Vietnam, first-ever by any Venezuelan leader, is another leg of a world tour which has taken Chavez to Russia, Qatar, Belarus and Iran. Chavez, accompanied by Venezuelan slew of government officials including ministers of Foreign Affairs, Energy and Petroleum, Communication and Information, Science and Technology, Basic Industry and Mining, and heads of presidential offices. He is partaking in this tour with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Minh Triet, before their visit formally got underway the two men reviewed an honor guard at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi before heading in for talks. The two leaders also signed an energy cooperation pact, a diplomatic framework pact, and agreement on culture cooperation. "I do believe that we will raise our relations to a new height," Triet said. Chavez echoed his willingness to help Vietnam in developing its oil and gas industry. "We are willing to support and cooperate with Vietnam to help it to be independent in oil production and refinery," Chavez said. Chavez pointed out that Vietnam, which exports all its crude oil and imports refined oil products, is losing $20 each time it fails to refine a barrel of crude oil, making for an annual loss of a |
