Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Friday that his government maintained good relations with former President Clinton and told U.S. business leaders that he would do his best to improve ties with the Bush administration. Speaking to business representatives from the United States at a trade meeting in Caracas, Chavez said relations with Washington have been tense since Clinton left office more than four years ago.With the current administration, there hasn't "been the smallest possibility of dialogue," said Chavez, one of Latin America's most outspoken critics of U.S. foreign policy in the region. Chavez said he nonetheless wanted to forge stronger ties between the countries. "You should know my dear North American friends, U.S. businessmen, and I say it with all the sincerity that can come from my soul, that we want to do everything possible to improve commercial, economic and political relations," said Chavez. "We are going to work so good times come."
Despite diplomatic differences, Chavez emphasized, the United States remains Venezuela's main oil buyer and top trade partner. Venezuela ships nearly 1.2 million barrels of crude to U.S. ports daily while many businesses in this South American nation import products made in the United States, including medicines, food and machinery.