OREANDA-NEWS. April 02, 2010. Vladimir Putin will visit the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on April 2, 2010. During his stay in Caracas, the Russian prime minister will meet with President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

-This is Vladimir Putin's first visit to Venezuela, although he has met with Hugo Chavez since 2000. The most recent meeting between the Russian Prime Minister and the President of Venezuela took place during Hugo Chavez's working visit to Russia from September 9 to 12, 2009 (the Venezuelan leader has visited Russia eight times, including two official visits).

The Russian prime minister's visit to Venezuela will coincide with several landmark dates in the histories of both countries and bilateral relations, including the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (March 14), the bicentennial of the beginning of the struggle for the liberation of Venezuela (April 19) and the 65th anniversary of Victory in World War II (a Joint Statement devoted to Victory in World War II is expected to be adopted at the end of the visit).

-Venezuela is one of Russia's key partners in Latin America. The two countries' high-level political dialogue based on mutual trust provides a solid basis for the progressive development of bilateral relations.
The Russian-Venezuelan talks are expected to focus on strengthening trade and economic relations, which mainly concern energy and mining. Several leading Russian companies have operations in Venezuela, including the National Oil Consortium (which consists of Gazprom, LUKoil, TNK-BP, Rosneft, Surgutneftegaz), Inter RAO UES, VNIIGaz, RusCaolin, etc. Both countries support making international oil market more stable through increased dialogue between independent hydrocarbons producers and OPEC member-countries, and both countries are committed to long-term natural gas cooperation, in particular through the Gas Exporting Countries Forum.

-Russia and Venezuela have also increased their industrial ties, in particular through the export of Russian automobiles (AvtoVAZ and KAMAZ) to Venezuela, as well as the establishment of assembly plants and service centres in Venezuela. Several Russian companies are involved in other projects with their Venezuelan counterparts, including Russian Technologies State Corporation, Sollers, Pipes Metallurgical Company, Pskovelectrosvar, Ilyushin Finance Co (IFC), Prominvest Ltd, the Unified Shipbuilding Corporation, Pharmstandart and Biokad.
There are other areas where Russia and Venezuela cooperate that also hold great promise, including the construction of oil and gas infrastructure, agriculture, rail and air transport and the financial sector - particularly the establishment of a joint Russian-Venezuelan bank under the auspices of AKB Evrofinance Mosnarbank.

-The Intergovernmental Russian-Venezuelan Commission also plays an important role in economic relations between the two countries. The seventh meeting of the Commission took place in Caracas on March 31 and was chaired by Venezuelan Vice President Elнas Jaua Milano and Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Igor Sechin. Russia and Venezuela will also discuss increased defence cooperation during the talks.

-Finally, the upcoming talks are expected to result in a number of intergovernmental agreements, including agreements establishing a cultural exchange programme and increasing cooperation in the fields of transport infrastructure and agriculture. In addition, the National Oil Consortium and Petrуleos de Venezuela (PDV SA) are expected to sign a series of agreements establishing a joint venture to develop the Junin-6 oil deposits located in the Orinoco River basin, which has proven reserves of 53 billion barrels. The National Oil Consortium's operations in Venezuela are subject to the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of Venezuela for Energy Cooperation (dated November 26, 2008), the Protocol for Introducing Amendments to the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of Venezuela for Energy Cooperation (dated March 18, 2009) and the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for Cooperation in Implementing Joint Strategic Projects (dated November 10, 2009). In accordance with the provisions of these agreements, the two parties have agreed to establish a joint venture between SVP, a subsidiary of PDVSA, and the National Oil Consortium to implement the Junin-6 oil project in Venezuela. The agreement also sets forth the terms for establishing the joint venture.
Vladimir Putin is also scheduled to meet with the President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Evo Morales, who will be in the Venezuelan capital at the time. Vladimir Putin and Evo Morales are expected to discuss strengthening Russian-Bolivian trade and economic ties, increased cooperation in the oil, gas and energy industries, and a number of current international issues.