Chinese premier calls Venezuela 'important economic partner'

China is willing to work with the Venezuela side to push forward the bilateral strategic partnership, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao when meeting with visiting Venezuelan President Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías.

Chinese president holds talks with Venezuela's Chávez in Beijing

President Hu Jintao held talks with visiting Venezuelan President Chávez in the Great Hall of the People in the afternoon of 24 August

Beijing backs Venezuela for UN Council

Venezuela has secured China's support in its bid for a United Nations Security Council seat, Hugo Chávez said on as he announced a raft of deals to develop his oil-rich nation's resources.

President Chávez's visit to Malaysia

President Hugo Chávez was received with honours during the first part of his official visit to Malaysia, where he intends to strengthen bilateral links and cooperation in oil and gas.

National government does not agree with expropriation of gulf courses

In an official communiqué, the Vice Presidency of Venezuela said 'under no circumstances will they accept the right to property is made vulnerable'.

Chavez appoint Congressman Nicolas Maduro Foreign Minister

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez appointed congressional President Nicolas Maduro as foreign minister, replacing Alí Rodríguez.

Cilia Flores new President of the National Assembly

The National Assembly designated its Member Cilia Flores as their new President.

28 candidates to run for President of Venezuela

28 candidates will compete in Venezuela's presidential elections this December. The announcement was made by the Venezuelan National Electoral Council (CNE) after the deadline to register to run for president expired at midnight last Thursday night

Audit: Universities say the Electoral Registry has no problems

According to the audit report of the Electoral Registry presented by six universities and the National Institute of Scientific Research the voters' census is suitable for an electoral process.

Venezuela has one of the lowest defence expenditure percentage in Latin American

Latin America is a pacific region that in 2005 invested 1.4% of its GDP in defence expenditure. This is one the lowest budgets in the world, according to a report by the Latin American Defence and Safety Network (Resdal).

Venezuela inaugurates largest cardiological children's hospital in Latin America

The 'Dr. Gilberto Rodríguez Ochoa' Latin American Cardiological Children's Hospital was inaugurated in the Montalbán neighborhood of Caracas, during Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez' weekly television show, Aló Presidente

Venezuela's economy continues booming as growth hits 9.2%

Venezuela's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 9.2% last quarter, while inflation and unemployment have both dropped three points over the last year, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INE)

Banking on revolution: Spread of oil money creates magnet for Venezuela's bankers

Bankers traditionally face firing squads in times of revolution. But in Venezuela, they are having a party.

Sales are expanded

Venezuelan commercial sector has enviable conditions. Consumers have more money in their pockets, are willing to buy things and trust the next year will be better.

Venezuela agrees $1.3bn tanker deal with China

The Chinese and Venezuelan governments have signed 12 energy agreements including a memorandum of understanding to build 18 tankers worth $1.3bn.

Venezuela signs more oil deals with China

Venezuela's plans to reduce its dependency on the US market for its oil exports took a step forward yesterday as President Hugo Chávez signed several agreements with the Chinese government in Beijing.

PDVSA: Reserves could grow to 316Bb

Venezuela's proven oil reserves total 81 billion barrels (Bb) and could grow to 316Bb by 2008, newspaper El Universal quoted state oil firm PDVSA president Rafael Ramírez as saying.

PDVSA: First liquefied natural gas train operational by 2010

Venezuela's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) train will be able to process 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day by 2010, state oil firm PDVSA president Rafael Ramírez said in a speech.

PDVSA to invest US$1 billion (A780 million) in oil technology and training

Venezuela's state-run oil firm, Petróleos de Venezuela SA, said it plans to invest an estimated US$1 billion (A780 million) in new technology projects and staff training.

Conatel to invest US$100mn to expand internet penetration - Venezuela

Venezuela's telecoms regulator Conatel plans to invest US$100mn to expand internet and fixed line penetration in an effort to add 500,000 new internet users in the next three years, local press quoted Conatel head Alvin Lezama as saying

Micro-credits will increase 73%

Once the government declared mandatory that banks direct 3% of the total loans to the micro-financial sector, financing to this sector started its sustained growth.

Enterprising Venezuelans

Venezuelans are the most enterprising people among the population of the 35 participating countries in GEM 2005 (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor), the most important international investigation project that measures early enterprising activity in several countries

Why the president is defending the golfers of Caracas
Publisher by The Guardian,
in Letters to the Editor.
By Alfredo Toro Hardy
Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, London

Your report (Caracas golf clubs in a hole as city bids to build homes on greens, August 31) failed to mention that President Chávez's government has disassociated itself from the expropriation of golf courses by the Caracas mayor. In a communique of August 30 it is stated: 'Under no circumstances will the government accept the right to property to be made vulnerable. The national government must guarantee juridical security for all citizens with no discrimination whatsoever.'

A Benign Revolution: In Defense of Hugo Chávez
Published by Foreign Affairs
By Bernardo Alvarez Herrera Venezuela's Ambassador to the United States

In her recently released book, Friendly Fire: Losing Friends and Making Enemies in the Anti-American Century, Latin America scholar Julia Sweig writes, 'When U.S. elites-in government, media, and the pri-vate sector-get their information mainly from their counterparts in other societies, the United States becomes disconnected from the conditions, feelings, preferences, and experiences of those living on the mar-gins of what Americans have incorrectly assumed to be a universal phenomenon of political, social, and economic progress promised by democracy and globalization

VENEZUELA : Politics and prices key to oil investments
Published by Oxford Analytica

SUBJECT: Efforts to increase foreign investment in the Venezuelan oil sector.

SIGNIFICANCE: A series of agreements have been announced with Russia, Iran and China as putative multi-billion dollar investors in the Venezuelan oil business, with the major focus on Orinoco extra heavy oil.

ANALYSIS: The international oil market continues to be tense and tight, with prices at record levels. In such circumstances, developments in the relationships between major hydrocarbons exporters are of particular significance.

US accused of bid to oust Chávez with secret funds
Published by The Guardian
By Duncan Campbell

•  Millions of dollars given to opposition, claim critics

•  Venezuelan groups' details hidden from list

"The US government has been accused of trying to undermine the Chávez government in Venezuela by funding anonymous groups via its main international aid agency.

Venezuela's candidacy for the UN Security Council appears on track
Published by the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, COHA *
By COHA Research Associate Tiffany Isaacs in collaboration with Research Associate Makiko Kurosaki

U.S. uses its muscle in contest over whether Venezuela or Guatemala will get the Latin American non-permanent Council seat