Venezuela President Hugo Chavez arrives in Portugal

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez arrives in this capital Wednesday for his third meeting in less than a year with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, where he will sign several accords on energy, housing and infrastructure. The South American statesman is carrying out a European tour that started in Moscow, continues in Belarus today and after an over 24-hour stay in Lisbon, will conclude in Madrid Friday. Chavez and Socrates met hardly two months ago in Caracas and previously in this capital in November 2007, during the Venezuelan head of State's first visit to Lisbon . The Portuguese head of government said that time that those understandings broadened new horizons of bilateral collaboration, as a first step to strengthen friendship and industrial development of Venezuela and Portugal. Both statesmen will analyze this time an agreement that includes the participation of Portuguese companies in the project of modernization of La Guaira port, near to Caracas , which Socrates visited in May. Also included is an accord to construct houses in Venezuela by Portuguese entities, as well as technical assistance by the European country for eolian energy projects implemented by the Chavez government. Portuguese Public Works Minister Mario Lino visited Caracas last week, to review the course of accords existing in the energy, economic, infrastructure and cultural sectors. Before traveling to Spain Friday, Chavez will meet with Portuguese business people and pay tribute to Simon Bolivar at a Lisbon square that bears the name of that South American historic figure.