Putin praises Venezuelan president for continuity of Chavez\'s policy towards Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin is glad that new Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro continues the policy of his predecessor Hugo Chavez for the development of relations with Russia. “As for bilateral relations, I am very glad to note that you have taken firmly the baton from your predecessor, who was one of the brightest leaders in Latin America, Hugo Chavez, and continue the development of Russian-Venezuelan relations,” the Russian president said at a meeting with Maduro. The Venezuelan president thanked Putin “for solidarity and personal friendship with Chavez.” “Chavez always showed a great respect and love for Russia, we inherited this love to Russia. We came to confirm the desire to strengthen and expand a strategic alliance with Russia,” Maduro said. He added that he is very glad to visit Moscow and “continue the course, which Hugo Chavez had taken.” “Our homeland is special in Latin America, this is the homeland of Simon Bolivar. Russia can hope for the homeland of Bolivar,” Maduro stated. Putin noted that he is aware of the plans of the Venezuelan leader to attend a festive event, which will be devoted to the naming of a Moscow street after Chavez on Tuesday. “For us this is a very important event,” Maduro thanked. The Russian president noted that “Russian-Venezuelan trade and economic relations entered a new level of two billion dollars.” “Our companies have a major investment plan of over 20 billion dollars,” Putin noted. In his view, the two countries are working successfully over the diversification of bilateral contacts. The Venezuelan president confirmed that “for the last few decades we have built the whole map of relations in different spheres.” In his view, Russia and Venezuela “are advancing perfectly in the energy sphere, oil, gas, equipment, and cooperation in the military sphere is developing at a good pace, the relations in the financial sector, the agrarian and industrial complex, education and culture are developing.” “We have 14 trends, 63 issues, on which we are working,” Nicolas Maduro said in conclusion.