Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will travel to Qatar at the end of March for a summit of leaders from South America and Arab countries, AP reported.

Chavez says he will also visit Iran as part of his tour for the March 31 summit in Doha, Qatar. During his decade in office, Chavez has built close ties with Iran and other Middle Eastern nations.

The Venezuelan leader said on state television Saturday that his trip would take him "possibly to Japan and other countries."

Venezuelan Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez has said Chavez is scheduled to travel to Japan on April 6.