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Medvedev arrives for Chavez talks Russia-Venezuela nuclear accord
(about 1 hour later)
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has arrived in Venezuela for talks with President Hugo Chavez. Russia and Venezuela have signed an agreement to promote the development of nuclear energy for civilian use.
Mr Medvedev will also visit Russian ships moored in the Caribbean. The agreement was signed during a visit by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to Venezuela's capital, Caracas, on the latest leg of his Latin American tour.
The visit is part of a Latin American tour aimed at boosting Russia's presence and trade ties in a region of strategic importance to the US. Under the accord, Russia would help Venezuela build a nuclear energy plant. Joint gas projects were also approved.
He travelled from Brazil where he and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva held talks on boosting trade and technical co-operation. Military co-operation is also high on the agenda of Mr Medvedev's talks with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Russian warships, including the nuclear-powered cruiser Peter the Great, sailed into Venezuelan waters on Tuesday, greeted by a 21-gun salute. Russian and Venezuelan warships are scheduled to hold joint military exercises later this week.
Military co-operation is likely to be high on the agenda of Mr Medvedev's talks with President Chavez.
Russia is already a major arms supplier to Venezuela, with contracts worth some $4.4bn (£2.39bn).Russia is already a major arms supplier to Venezuela, with contracts worth some $4.4bn (£2.39bn).
Financial crisis Mr Medvedev's visit is part of a Latin American tour aimed at boosting both Russia's presence and trade ties in a region traditionally of strategic importance to the US.
During his visit to Caracas, Mr Medvedev could sign an accord under which Russia would help Venezuela build a nuclear energy plant. The Russian leader travelled to Venezuela from Brazil, where he and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva held talks on boosting trade and technical co-operation.
The two countries already co-operate closely on energy matters, with their state-owned energy companies embarking on joint enterprises. In Rio de Janeiro, the two presidents expressed their view that the "Bric" countries - Brazil, Russia, India and China - should hold their first summit in Russia in 2009.
At talks in Rio de Janeiro, President Medvedev and President Lula expressed their view that the "BRIC" countries - Brazil, Russia, India and China - should hold their first summit in Russia in 2009, Reuters reports.
"The financial crisis, which we haven't started and we are not to blame for, affected the global economic situation and we are forced to react," Mr Medvedev told reporters.
"We agreed with President Lula that we will co-ordinate our efforts with Brazil in fighting the crisis and creating a new global financial architecture."