Chavez meets visiting counterparts ahead of Venezuela Summit

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has welcomed his Argentine, Brazilian and Bolivian counterparts to Caracas, ahead of the first summit of the 33-member Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.

The summit takes place in Venezuela on Friday and Saturday. It had been delayed as Chavez underwent treatment for cancer. The Argentine leader, Cristina Fernandez, joined her ally at the Miraflores Place where Fernandez made a pledge for inclusive growth.

Chavez announced he would be attended the Buenos Aires ceremony to mark the start of Fernandez’s second term as president on December the 10th. It will be his first official trip abroad since his treatment and a further show of vigour prior to a re-election run. Chavez said the 33-member group would form a new integration mechanism across the region and work to bring societies closer together.

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez salutes at Miraflores Palace in Caracas December 1,
2011. Chavez hosts a regional summit this week that puts his recovery from cancer at
center stage as he begins his toughest election campaign yet. The first meeting of the
33-member Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) on December 2-3 was
originally meant to be held six months ago to coincide with the 200th anniversary of
Venezuela's independence. 

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez listens to his Argentinian counterpart Cristina
Fernandez after a meeting at Miraflores Palace in Caracas December 1, 2011.

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez welcomes his Brazilian counterpart Dilma Rousseff at
Miraflores Palace in Caracas December 1, 2011.

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez welcomes his Argentinian counterpart Cristina
Fernandez at Miraflores Palace in Caracas December 1, 2011.

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez (R) and his Brazilian counterpart Dilma Rousseff
talk during an agreement-signing ceremony at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas December
1, 2011.

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