�� Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias said in Beijing Tuesday that the results he achieved during his current visit to China far exceeded his expectations.

�� He made the comment at a news conference. The president, scheduled to leave China for Japan Wednesday morning, called the visit a "very successful one."

�� He said he had a wide-range and in-depth exchange of views with Chinese leaders on bilateral cooperation in political, economic, social and cultural areas, which laid a solid foundation for future cooperation between the two countries.

�� He expressed the belief that the visit, during which he conducted direct dialogues with Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji, will help increase mutual understanding and friendship between Venezuela and China.

�� The president told reporters that their talks were mainly about bilateral economic and trade ties, and China has given him many " happy surprises," including the agreement signed on Venezuela's annual exportation of five million tons of orimulsion to China starting from the year 2002.

�� China also decided to send agricultural experts to Venezuela as soon as possible to help plant rice, he said, adding that the two countries have agreed to set up a high-level mixed commission to explore new cooperative programs.

�� He appreciated China's development mode, saying it can be a model for Venezuela and many other developing nations. He said the visit provided him a precious opportunity to gain comprehensive and practical knowledge about China's great achievements over the past half century. (Xinhua)