Chavez: Venezuela rejuvenated its place around the world in 2004
Maiquetia, 27 Dec. Venpres.- Speaking from the Simon Bolivar International Airport after returning from an official visit to the Popular Republic of China, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias highlighted that Venezuela has rejuvenated its place around the world during 2004. He began his speech by sending a warm embrace to the people of Venezuela and said that he and the people who accompanied him on his trip, came back charged with optimism and faith. The Venezuelan Head of State underlined that commercial relations between Venezuela and China totaled US$150 million in 2003, compared with US$1,05 billion from January to September this year, adding that this amount could increase to $1.2 billion by 31 December 2004. Furthermore, projections stand at $2.7billion for 2005, making Venezuela China's first destination for investment throughout the American continent, a circumstance that will be strengthened by Chinese Vice President Zeng Quinhong's visit to Venezuela on 27-29 January, highlighted Chavez. Chavez says that China is very interested in cocoa and plantains, according to conversations with authorities from the province of Shandon, where he ended his trip (Saturday, 25 December). He gave special importance to the fact that the Vice President of China and a delegation of Chinese entrepreneurs are scheduled to visit the country to expand and sign bilateral agreements. Among the eight agreements signed between both countries, included the creation of a $700 million credit line for China to help with the construction of Venezuela's housing system. China declared Venezuela a tourist destination and according to both presidents, if there were a direct flight from Shandon to Maiquetia, most of the Chinese tourists would fly to Venezuela to see its natural beauty. The Venezuelan leader also highlighted an agreement to manufacture computers which will be carried out in three phases: the first phase is the assembling; the second, the manufacturing the pieces and the third, the assembling of the computer all together. He also held conversations on several projects to create Endogenous Development Centers with the installation of processing plants to process diverse products, added the Venezuelan Head of State with great enthusiasm. With respect to this matter, the Venezuelan Guayana Corporation has entered into a cooperation agreement with the Chinese company, Shenzhen China-Venezuela Agricultural Investment CO., LTD. to turn the Guara island, located in southern Monagas, into an agro-industrial hub. He also said that Venezuela is looking into acquiring a Chinese telecommunications satellite, and installing radars, including the creation of a $40 million credit line for Venezuela's purchase of agricultural equipment from China. Chavez highlighted that "Venezuela belongs to all of us now and we shall not suffer like we did in 2002". "Let's keep on building our Bolivarian, Christian, pacific and democratic Revolution," he stated. The Venezuelan President was accompanied during his official visit to China by Venezuelan Executive Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel; Defense Minister, General-in-Chief, Jorge Luis Garcia Carneiro; Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez Araque; Planning and Development Minister Jorge Giordani; Energy and Mines Minister Rafael Ramirez; Environment and Natural Resources Minister Ana Elisa Osorio, just to name a few.

President expresses condolences and solidarity with Asian countries affected by earthquake
Maiquetia, 27 Dec. Venpres.- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias has expressed his condolences and solidarity with the tens of thousands of people who passed away following the earthquake and tidal waves that struck six Asian countries. The Venezuelan leader guaranteed Venezuela's support for Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh and the Maldives, whose coastal areas were hit by tsunamis (with tidal waves measuring up to 40 meters high), the largest reported in the last 40 years. He said that the Venezuelan national director of Civilian Protection, Colonel Antonio Rivero, stated that Venezuela will be sending humanitarian help to those Asian countries affected by the worst earthquake in the last 40 years. Upon his arrival to the Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia from an official visit to China, Chavez expressed his condolences to those peoples who were affected by the earthquake disaster.

Death toll rises to 20,000 in Asia
Jakarta, 27 Dec. Venpres.- At least 20,000 people were reported killed when a tectonic earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter Scale and giant tidal waves devastated coastal areas of at least seven Asian countries. The earthquake, of 8.9 degrees on the Richter scale, is the largest reported in the last 40 years, and is considered one of the largest in the last 100 years. The movement's epicenter was located in the Indonesian island of Sumatra, but its destructive effect was multiplied in the sea, when gigantic waves washed over coastal areas of Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh and the Maldives. At least 4,500 people died in Indonesia and towns around the area totally disappeared, the Indonesian Health Ministry has confirmed. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has declared a three day national mourning to honor victims. Meanwhile, at least 9,000 people were killed in Sri Lanka, among them 70 foreign tourists. In India, the toll reaches 5,600, 839 in Thailand, 44 in Malaysia, while in Myanmar, 10 were reported dead.

Euro advances strongly against the dollar
Berlin, 27 Dec. Venpres.- The euro, the currency of twelve of the fifteen countries that form the European (and some outside it), has hit a historic record high at the Frankfurt exchange market today. It currently stands at $1.3574 per unit before closing operations, breaking the old record of 1.3556 reached earlier today. With this result, the euro has accumulated an increase from January to date of 7.6% with respect to the US$, although the increase was surpassed by 52% in 1999. This new escalation of the euro began last Thursday, after reports of an increase of 1.6% in US durable goods orders during the month of September. There are investors who claim that the White House is interested in dollar being weak, since this way, exports are cheaper and there are more options to obtain a positive balance in the balance of payments. According to analysts, the administration of President George W. Bush is reluctant to supporting the dollar, since the current scenario favors Washington's efforts to reduce its commercial deficit.

Chavez stresses need to boost cooperation between Venezuela and China
Beijing, 27 Dec. (Venpres) -. Visiting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has suggested that Venezuela and China expand cooperation, especially in the energy sector and launch mining cooperative projects. Speaking during his five-day state visit to China, Chavez also suggested that the two countries cooperate in agriculture, infrastructure construction, and the high-tech sector. He called for high-level contacts and efforts by officials from the two countries to better coordinate and cooperate in international and regional affairs for world peace, stability and development. Chavez discussed the Sino-Venezuelan strategic partnership with Chinese President Hu Jintao, highlighting that Venezuela-China relations have been consolidated over the past 30 years. Venezuela and China have carried out fruitful cooperation in fields like the economy, culture and science and technology. Chavez arrived in Beijing on Thursday morning. This is his third state visit to China.

OPEC daily basket price slips to US$36.58
Vienna, 27 Dec. (Venpres) -.The price of the OPEC Basket of seven crudes stood at US$36.58 a barrel on Friday, compared with $36.71 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.