Venezuela's Maduro to visit China, Vietnam for finance deals

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Friday said he will visit China and Vietnam to sign economic and financing deals, Reuters reported.

'I leave tomorrow for Vietnam and China to seal agreements for the economic and financial security of Venezuela, and to seek support in these difficult times,' Maduro said during a televised broadcast.

He said he had received invitations from the presidents of China and Vietnam. He did not offer further details.

Venezuela has borrowed $50 billion from China through an oil-for-loans agreement created by late president Hugo Chavez in 2007, which has helped Chinese companies expand into Venezuelan markets amid chronic shortages of consumer goods.