Trade and economic issues dominated the agenda of today's talks, a Kremlin source told RIA in an interview. According to the source, a number of bilateral agreements are to be signed during Chavez's current visit to Russia. The documents planned for signing include a joint presidential communique, agreements on cooperation in the energy industry and joint efforts against money-laundering, and a protocol on the completion of bilateral talks over Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization. On the sidelines of Chavez's visit, the Russian petroleum major LUKOIL and Venezuela's PDVSA may sign a memorandum on understanding.
Officials in Moscow hope for a meaningful dialogue with the Venezuelan President on cooperation in the oil industry. "Russia and Venezuela rank among the world's largest producers and exporters of petroleum. Sustained stability on the world energy market is in the best interest of both, " our interviewee noted.
This is Chavez's third time in Russia already. In 2001, he was here on an official and a routine visits.
