Russian President Hails Growing Ties On Venezuela Visit

CARACAS (AFP)--Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday hailed his country's growing ties with Venezuela as the two countries signed seven accords, including a deal to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

"Our collaboration in recent years has strengthened considerably and is flourishing. I think that it has great prospects for the future and we will actively work on it," Medvedev said, on the first visit by a Russian head of state to Venezuela.

Apart from the nuclear deal, the accords included oil exploitation, industrial cooperation, and removing visas for each other's citizens.

"I'm convinced that this visit will give a boost to our collaboration and relations between Russia and Venezuela...which is one of our most important partners in Latin America," Medvedev said.

The Russian leader said both countries wished to promote a "multi-polar" world and said they had "great potential" to find ways to overcome the difficult economic period together.

The two countries have signed $4.4 billion in bilateral arms deals since 2005, including radars, 24 Sukhoi-30 planes, 50 helicopters and 100,000 Kalashnikov automatic rifles.

Medvedev, whose visit coincided with the arrival of a fleet of Russian warships for maneuvers with the Venezuelan navy in the Caribbean, also invited Chavez to Moscow in 2009.