Chavez says US empire has collapsed, China part of 'new world order'

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Wednesday that his two-day visit to Beijing this week is part of the creation of a "new world order," in light of the 'collapse of the US empire.' The frequent US critic, who met with China's president and Communist Party leader Hu Jintao on Wednesday, told reporters that power in the world was shifting from America to countries such as Iran, Japan and China. "We are creating a new world, a balanced world. A new world order, a multi-polar world," Chavez said after arriving Tuesday evening. "The unipolar world has collapsed. The power of the US empire has collapsed," he said. "Everyday, the new poles of world power are becoming stronger. Beijing, Tokyo, Teheran ... it's moving toward the East and toward the South."