Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrived in Venezuela on Friday for talks with President Hugo Chavez on a range of issues including military-technical cooperation and joint energy projects.
Putin was met at the airport by an honor guard and welcomed by Chavez. Before starting discussions at the presidential palace, Putin laid a wreath at the tomb of national hero Simon Bolivar and was given a symbolic key to the city by the mayor of Caracas.
As part of the ceremony, the Venezuelan Symphony Orchestra played a piece from the opera Eugene Onegin, and an chorus of schoolgirls shouted in unison "Welcome to Venezuela, prime minister of Russia."
The discussions between Putin and Chavez were expected to touch upon the possibility of Russia granting Venezuela a loan of $2.2 billion.
After their talks, a raft of documents will be signed, including on the development of the Junin-6 oil field.
CARACAS, April 2 (RIA Novosti)
