Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. They discussed strengthening their bilateral cooperation, and overcoming the challenges both countries face as oil exporters. CGTN's Daria Bondarchuk reports.

 

DARIA BONDARCHUK MOSCOW "Russia's President Vladimir Putin has welcomed Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in the Kremlin. The two leaders agreed to continue economic cooperation on major projects in oil and gas, in the agricultural sector as well as in the military-technical field. Maduro thanked Putin for his political support for Caracas, recently challenged both by opposition at home and critics from abroad. He welcomed the ongoing and future energy and trade deals with Russia that he said would help Venezuela's troubled economy. "

 

NICOLAS MADURO VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT "Today we can reach agreement on our plans for cooperation in energy sphere, agriculture, trade. I'm very thankful for the agreement on grain, it has helped keep consumption in Venezuela stable."

 

Putin reaffirmed Moscow's continued support for Caracas and its intent to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

 

VLADIMIR PUTIN RUSSIAN PRESIDENT "We see that Venezuela is going through difficult times. We have the impression that you have, nevertheless, been able to establish some contact with those political forces that oppose you. On our part, work continues, including in the economic sphere."

 

DARIA BONDARCHUK MOSCOW "During his Russia visit President Maduro also attended the Russian energy week forum. Speaking at the event, he called on OPEC and non-OPEC countries to honor the oil output freeze agreement reached earlier this year. He also suggested global oil producers discuss creating an alternative currency basket, to include the Russian ruble and Chinese yuan, which could help eliminate the impact of futures trading. Last month, Venezuela began publishing its own oil prices in yuan." Daria Bondarchuk, CGTN Moscow