Chavez: Malaysia backs Venezuela's UN bid

KUALA LUMPUR: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Malaysia is backing his government's bid for a seat on the U.N. Security Council. 

"The support was made known by the government of that Asian nation in an official message,'' Chavez said in comments aired late Monday on Venezuelan state TV. 

U.S. officials, alarmed by Chavez's deepening ties with countries like Iran and North Korea, has sought to block his country's U.N. bid and is backing Guatemala instead. 

But Chavez said he has the support of China - the second of five veto-wielding permanent members to back him after Russia. 

Chavez also said Malaysia and Venezuela both want an end to American imperialism in international affairs. 

"Malaysia is a country that shares many of Venezuela's positions,'' he said. 

"I think a new world geopolitical dynamic heading toward post-imperialism is in march. Imperialism must end, and it will end,'' he said. 

Chavez toured a palm oil facility near Malaysia's largest city, Kuala Lumpur, early Tuesday, his third day in the country, and was scheduled to address Malaysian businessmen later in the day. 

Venezuela plans to explore closer cooperation with Malaysia in the oil and gas industries, as well in palm oil, the foreign ministry said. 

Trade between the nations totaled US$39 million (euro30.47 million) last year, nearly double the US$19.8 million in 2004.