CHINA DAILY: HAVANA - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez returned to Cuba to visit his convalescing friend and ally Fidel Castro, spending six hours with the 80-year-old leader he considers a guiding light for the Latin American left.
State television reported the pair shared an "emotional" meeting Tuesday, discussing Venezuela-Cuba relations, climate change and a socialist-leaning regional pact they created. Chavez was to unveil a statue of Venezuelan independence hero Francisco de Miranda on Wednesday morning and stop by a nearby college.
Politics aside, the two men clearly share a deep personal affection, with Chavez visiting Castro more than any other foreign leader since he fell gravely ill in late July. Castro a key influence for Chavez (more)
Mark Alexander
