BARVIKHA, Russia (AFP) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday met his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, and passed on a message from Cuban leader Fidel Castro hailing Russia's greater role in world affairs.

"Fidel and many other friends in Latin America have asked me to greet you," Chavez, a fierce critic of US President George W. Bush and US foreign policy, said at the beginning of his meeting with Medvedev, who was inaugurated in May.

"Fidel speaks of a crisis of reason, especially in the most powerful countries. Russia has restored this reason," Chavez said at the meeting in Medvedev's residence at Barvikha, near Moscow.

"I watch the rebirth of Russia with great respect and great love," he said.

Chavez arrived in Moscow on Tuesday for talks on arms purchases and economic cooperation with Medvedev, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and an array of senior Russian officials and business leaders.

Upon arrival, he called for Russia to team up with Venezuela against the US.

LIKE IT?  LET OTHERS KNOW