Venezuela, Russia sign 11 cooperation agreements
Caracas, Dec 14 (EFE).- Venezuela and Russia on Wednesday signed 11 cooperation agreements for the next decade.
The agreements in health, energy, maritime transport and the fight against drugs, among other areas, were sealed during a high-level meeting held in Caracas with a visiting Russian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.
Among the agreements signed is a cooperation plan for the “fight against drug trafficking” and for the “improvement of the supply system for essential insulin medicines,” Venezuela’s economy vice-presidency said in a press release.
The state-owned oil and natural gas company, PDVSA, also signed two memorandums of understanding for the development of research and projects in energy and for the evaluation of technologies.
During the event, held within the framework of the meeting of the 16th High-Level Intergovernmental Commission (CIAN), Venezuela’s economy vice-president and oil minister, Tareck El Aissami, proposed “drawing strategic lines that redefine a bilateral cooperation agenda” for the period 2022-2032.
Bilateral cooperation “has been marked by important achievements and advances, which have strengthened and shaped this exemplary relationship that promises a future of prosperity,” he said.
He also pointed out that both countries have signed 326 agreements in areas, including trade, energy, agriculture, food, transportation, science and technology, and health.
Those agreements, he added, have resulted in the supply to Venezuela of 9.5 million Covid-19 vaccine doses as well as 5 million doses of flu vaccines and 5.4 million doses of insulin.
The minister also highlighted the air connection between Caracas and Moscow with the operation of 84 flights, in which more than 20,000 passengers have been transported. Cargo transport between both countries stands at about 500 tons.
El Aissami welcomed the agreements in the tourism sector that have “made it possible to open two weekly flights” between Moscow and Venezuela’s Margarita Island.
To date, more than 15,000 Russian tourists have traveled aboard 33 such flights, he said.
For his part, the Russian deputy prime minister described Venezuela as a reliable, loyal and strategic ally of Russia in the Latin American region and in the world in general.
He also praised efforts by the Venezuelan government towards stabilizing the internal political situation and the social and economic condition.
He said that Russia is scheduled to supply 1.92 million flu vaccine doses to the South American nation next year. EFE
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