OREANDA-NEWS. July 22, 2008. The main topic of the talks was trade and economic cooperation. They discussed the question of expanding military-technical, energy and investment cooperation, as well as prospective projects in mining, machine production and transport infrastructure.

As a result of talks a number of documents in the fuel and energy spheres were signed in the presence of the presidents of Russia and Venezuela. In particular, an agreement between TNK-BP and Petrуleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) concerning joint exploration of the Ayacucho-2 field in the Orinoco oil region. Lukoil signed an agreement with PDVSA for joint explorations of the Junin-3 field in the Orinoco oil belt as well as a memorandum of understanding. In addition, Gazprom entered into an agreement with the Venezuelan corporation PDVSA concerning certification and assessment of reserve deposits in the Ayacucho-3 field in the Orinoco oil belt .

Concluding the meeting, the heads of state gave a joint press conference, during which Dmitry Medvedev commented on Russia's position concerning the situation in Zimbabwe.

The talks were attended by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov, the head of the Russian party in the intergovernmental commission, Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko, the first deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andrei Denisov, Director of the Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation Mikhail Dmitriev and CEO of Russian state corporation Rostekhnologii Sergei Chemezov.

In addition, representatives of major businesses participated in the talks: among them were the head of LUKOIL Vagit Alekperov, the head of RUSAL, a Russian aluminium industry company, Oleg Deripaska, the general director of Sukhoi Mikhail Pogosyan, executive director of TNK–BP German Khan and deputy chairman of the board at Gazprom Alexander Medvedev.