CARACAS, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias has decorated Han Yuqun, the visiting governor of China's Shandong province, with the Francisco de Miranda medal, it was learned on Tuesday.

    Han, who began a visit to Venezuela on Sunday, received the award at a ceremony in the Macagua Hydroelectric Complex on Monday night, at a dinner in his honor that was also attended by visiting Luiz Inacio da Silva, who was re-elected Brazilian President on Oct. 29.

    Chavez highlighted the importance to Venezuela-China relations. He said that Han's visit comes as part of a series of agreements signed in August in Beijing and Jinan, capital of Shandong, by Chavez.

    Officials from Shandong and Venezuela's central government will meet to discuss cooperation in steel-making, machinery, science and technology, agriculture, infrastructure and mining.