Western Affairs
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva started on Friday their fifth quarterly work meeting, with a tour of a dairy complex in western Zulia state.

Chávez guided his Brazilian colleague through "Los Lechosos," a production socialist module containing near 2,000 heads of livestock from Brazil, reported Efe.

The presidents are also expected to visit some irrigation systems based on Brazilian technology and other projects developed under the aegis of Brazil, according to Venezuelan government sources.

Chávez and Lula will also meet with businessmen from both nations and will enter into cooperation agreements, added the same sources.

On Friday morning, Chávez told state-run Radio Nacional de Venezuela about stronger ties with Brazil, both in the political and trade areas. These matters would be reviewed during their Friday's talks, in the context of the quarterly meetings beginning in 2007.

Lula arrived in Maracaibo on Thursday night and is set to return to Brazil on Friday afternoon.