Chavez arrives in Tehran

Iranian Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, welcomed the Venezuelan president in Tehran's Mehrabad Airport on Wednesday night, IRNA reported.

During Chavez' visit to Tehran, Iran and Venezuela will launch a joint bank.

The Venezuelan president will leave Tehran for Tokyo after meeting with Iranian officials.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad officially welcomed his Venezuelan counterpart on Thursday morning.

During the official ceremony, the national anthems of the two countries were played and the Presidents reviewed a guard of honor.