Chinaisnowthe thirdlargestmarket for cosmetic surgery in the world, afterthe USandBrazil, although when population is taken into account cosmetic surgery may bemostcommon in South Korea.
He was also instrumental in strengthening alliances with the Bolivarian countries and in raising the status of Venezuela in the region, including its inclusion in the South American commonmarket (MERCOSUR).
This is why Western Hemisphere countries have accepted Venezuela as a democracy, as have the Organization of American States (OAS) and Mercosur (The South American CommonMarket).
Just last week Brazil and its allies in the Southern Cone supported the inclusion of Venezuela in Mercosur, the South American commonmarket, despite Chavez's anti-democratic practices which contradicts the group's clause that conditions membership on the existence of fully democratic institutions.