The 19th meeting of the Russia-Venezuela High-Level Intergovernmental Commission. Photo: Vice Presidency of Venezuela.
Venezuela and Russia signed 42 new agreements in various sectors including energy and finance. The agreements were signed at the 19th meeting of the Russia-Venezuela High-Level Intergovernmental Commission (HIC), held on Thursday, November 27.
The vice president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, chaired the meeting and detailed the achievements resulting from the strategic alliance and cooperation between the two nations. Representing Russia was the deputy prime minister of Russia, Dimitry Chernyshenko, via video conference.
Venezuelan Vice President Rodríguez explained that “42 new agreements have been achieved across 10 areas of the existing HIC, and we know that the Russia–Venezuela relationship is unstoppable and indestructible. I say this with the conviction of our historical roots, which promote independence, self-determination, and sovereignty.”
Rodríguez underscored that Russia and Venezuela are working to ensure peace, stability, cooperation, healthy trade, and exchange within the framework of international law.
“We know that Russia is waging a great battle to definitively eliminate any remaining space for fascism and extremism,” she added. “Eighty years ago, Russia was the one carrying the banners of peoples’ dignity and peace. Eighty years later, Russia is symbolically fighting the same battle for humanity, against neofascism and neo-Nazism, and we know that President Maduro’s participation in the commemorative events [of the Great Patriotic War] brought to it the antifascist and anti-imperialist spirit of Venezuela.”
Russia is a solid bloc
Rodríguez thanked Russia for maintaining collaboration within the OPEC+ framework, which brings together not only the organization’s member countries but also oil-producing nations that are not part of it, and which “now form a solid bloc in defending oil prices, working to maintain balance in the international market as well as the economic stability of producers and consumers.”
She also highlighted Russia’s presence in the BRICS which represents the expression of a new world order based on international law and multilateralism, where nations come together to cooperate for the benefit of their peoples and not to harm other nations.
Outcome of HIC is positive
Rodríguez underscored that the outcome of the 19th HIC meeting has been “very positive” and reported that in the energy sector, the Venezuelan parliament extended the alliance that Venezuela has with the joint ventures Petroperijá and Petroboqueronby by another 15 years.
She also reported that the other three joint ventures—Petromonagas, Petrovictoria, and Petropiar—are maintaining satisfactory production levels.
Similarly progress continues in the gas sector. The vice president noted that “at this HIC, cooperation on gas, with a Russian company for gas export and production, has progressed.”
Regarding the financial sector, she noted that Russian MIR cards continue to be used by Russian tourists in Venezuela, and that steps are now being taken to enable Venezuelans to use their cards in Russia.
“It is a new financial mechanism, as we confront the criminal blockade against our countries, which is nothing more than hatred and resentment, that employs sound, mutually agreed-upon measures to help us continue moving forward without any difficulty.”
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Agro-industry sector
Rodríguez also referred to cooperation in agro-industry, which has already been underway in the cocoa sector and now, with seafood products, a special protocol is being signed.
She indicated that the goal is to increase bilateral trade in this sector to $400 million.
Vaccine against cancer
Regarding the health sector, the Venezuelan vice president reported the signing of a protocol for cooperation on cancer vaccine.
“For us, this scientific breakthrough by Russia will be one of Russia’s contributions to humanity, and we want Venezuela to be there, accompanying this great historic step that has been taken in Russia,” she said.
Regarding insulin, she specified that by 2026 Venezuela will be producing it, thanks to technology transfer by Russia.
Agreements on strategic minerals
Regarding mining, Rodríguez reported that there is “extraordinary news” for the people of both Venezuela and Russia.
“We are signing agreements for strategic minerals and for exploration and extraction in Venezuela’s Mining Arc, which holds one of the world’s largest reserves of gold and diamonds,” she stated.
She further reported that protocols were also signed in sports and cultural fields.
(Últimas Noticias) by Aura Torrealba
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/SC/DZ
