"Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says China is providing his nation with a long-term, $20-billion (U.S.) financing plan for major projects in the South American oil-exporter.

“China is going to give financing to Venezuela, to the Venezuelan people, to the Bolivarian Revolution ... over the long-term and in large volume of some $20 billion,” Mr. Chavez said Saturday at a signing ceremony in Caracas.

The Venezuelan leader said the deal was on top of an existing $12-billion Chinese-Venezuelan investment fund in which Beijing deposits money in return for forward sales of oil.

He did not specify what areas the financing were for but China is increasingly involved in Venezuela's oil, electricity, food, construction and technology sectors.

Mr. Chavez had been due to host President Hu Jintao this weekend but the Chinese leader cut short his Latin American visit due to an earthquake at home.

As well as signing the financing agreement, Mr. Chavez and Chinese officials penned another six accords covering electricity and oil projects, including ratification of a joint venture to develop a block in the Orinoco crude belt.

The Junin 4 block is expected to require about $16-billion investment over three years and eventually produce more than 400,000 barrels per day.

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