jj,

Apparently he is going to China soon:

http://en.rian.ru/world/20101004/160816662.html

Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez will head for Russia on October 11, Venezuelan news agency AVN reported.

Chavez's visit to the Russian capital - his ninth - will be part of his international tour.

"I am leaving for Russia October 11... and then I am going to head for China," AVN quoted him as saying.

The outspoken Venezuelan leader last visited Moscow in September 2009, when he announced that his country recognizes the independence of the former Georgian republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Earlier Latin American media reported that Chavez's visit agenda includes Belarus and Ukraine. Reuters said he also plans to drop in at Iran.

MOSCOW, October 4 (RIA Novosti)

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/americas/view/1084943/1/.html

Venezuela's Chavez to visit China, Russia, Belarus, Iran
Posted: 04 October 2010 0932 hrs

CARACAS: President Hugo Chavez said Sunday that he will travel soon to Russia, Belarus, China and Iran; four countries with which Venezuela has sought close political and economic ties in recent years.

Chavez did not immediately offer specific dates.

"In a few days, I will be travelling to Russia. We have important projects with Russia," Chavez said.

A bilateral finance bank to which Russia and Venezuela agreed two years ago could be ready to launch on time for the visit, he said.

"A few days ago, I received a letter from the Russian president (Dmitry Medvedev) in which he was insisting that we iron out the technical and financial details of the bank. It is very likely that when I get to Moscow it will be ready," Chavez said.

China and Venezuela have also boosted their economic cooperation; they have a 12-billion-dollar joint finance fund. Beijing has said it will spend 16 billion dollars on a heavy crude well in the Orinoco delta area, in the east of Venezuela, an OPEC member and South America's biggest oil producer. -AFP/ac

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201009281019dowjonesdjonline000200&title=venezuelas-chavez-plans-trip-to-chinaa-growing-partner