Venezuela's Chavez wishes Castro fast recovery from surgery, meets general 

(1 Aug 2006)
AP Television
1. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at podium addressing business leaders
2. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Hugo Chavez, Venezuelan President:
"Waking up this morning and receiving that news, you may see what feeling one would have toward a good friend."
3. Press
4. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Hugo Chavez, Venezuelan President:
"With our heart, we wish (that) President Fidel Castro will recover rapidly in the soonest time so that he will always be with us."
POOL
5. Chavez greeting General Vo Nguyen Giap, UPSOUND: (Spanish) Hugo Chavez, Venezuelan President: "It's a great pleasure to come to greet you."
6. Chavez standing for photos with General Vo and his wife
7. Various of Chavez and General Vo seated together talking
8. Chavez and General Vo talking, Chavez holding Giap's hand
9. Close-up of hands
10. Wide of room
11. General Vo giving Chavez some books
12. Close-up of books about Vietnamese history ("Ho Chi Minh ideology", "Dien Bien Phu" and "General Vo Nguyen Giap")
13. Various of Chavez giving General Vo a copy of Simon Bolivar's sword
STORYLINE:
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez expressed concern on Tuesday about Fidel Castro's health and wished him a fast recovery from surgery to fix intestinal bleeding.
"With our heart, we wish (that) President Fidel Castro will recover rapidly in the soonest time so that he will always be with us," Chavez said at a meeting with business leaders in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Chavez, who like Castro is a strident critic of the United States, said he learned from television news reports that the Cuban leader had temporarily relinquished his presidential powers to his brother, Raul, because of the surgery.
"Waking up this morning and receiving that news, you may see what feeling one would have toward a good friend," Chavez said.
Chavez also meet with General Vo Nguyen Giap, the mastermind of Vietnam's military defeats of France and the United States, and presented him with a sword similar to one used by Venezuelan hero Simon Bolivar.
During his visit to Vo's residence, Chavez praised Vietnam for winning independence from colonial ruler France, saying its battles against imperialism had set a big example for the world.
The Venezuelan president also pledged to help the communist country develop its nascent oil and gas industry.
Chavez is on a two-day visit to communist-ruled Vietnam as part of an international tour that has included stops in Belarus, Russia, Qatar and Iran.
He also plans to visit Mali and Benin this week.
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