(ITAR-TASS) - President Vladimir Putin said he is pleased with the development of Russian-Venezuelan relations, including military-technical cooperation.
At the expanded talks with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Thursday, Putin said, In our vis-Р°-vis meeting we noted the onward development of our relations. Trade turnover increases. Were finding new fields for cooperation, including military-technical interaction.
In his view, it is necessary to analyse the implementation of the earlier reached agreements. The Venezuelan presidents visit to Russia will give a new powerful impetus to the development of cooperation, President Putin pointed out, reports Trend.
Putin said Russia would develop military-technical cooperation with Venezuela. Our cooperation is not limited to the energy interaction; promising areas are the financial-investment sphere, machine-building, the ore mining and steel industry, chemistry, transport and, of course, military- technical cooperation.
Cooperation of Russia and Venezuela is not directed against third countries, our interaction is aimed at developing the economies and increasing the living standards of our countries population, the president stressed.
Russia will be a reliable partner of Venezuela, as of other partners in the international arena, he said.
President Chavez assured that he would develop military-technical cooperation with Russia. We are full of resolve to move forward in this direction.
At todays talks, we have reviewed a very good progress in the military-technical sphere, Chavez said. He thanked Putin for firm support in this area.
In the face of pressure and even an embargo (of the US against Venezuela), Russia has extended a hand to us, the Venezuelan leader said.
On the fifth of July, the Independence Day, the whole people in Venezuela rejoiced when two Su planes appeared in the sky. This gives us moral firmness, all the more so that we get the Kalashnikov submachine-guns that will replace rifles of the forties, when there were no parts, Chavez said.