Doesn't look like Chavez has signed any agreements on mining with Russia.

Chávez highlighted opportunities for agreements with Russia in energy, mining and tourism
Caracas, 15 Oct. AVN .- The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez Frías, said on Friday the vast opportunities of future cooperation between his country and Russia on issues like energy, mining, tourism and aviation .

In joint press conference Friday with his Russian counterpart, Dmitri Medvedev, the president said that as a South American oil powers, the two countries are obliged to coordinate strategies for thinking about the future medium.

"We're doing the right thing by bringing our companies and also joint ventures in oil. We have many ongoing projects and others under consideration, "he said in response to a question on future projects between the two nations.

He stressed cooperation and the anticipated gas in terms of nuclear energy. On the latter, said: "It will be important as a contribution not only for Venezuela but a technological contribution to the future, which requires diversification of energy sources."

He added that also work in the mining sector.

"Venezuela has large reserves of gold, other minerals and precious stones, diamonds, uranium mining. Is a map that we have here, where we have not yet established any firm agreement, but we walk over there, "he said.

In tourism, he recalled that there is already a Caracas-Moscow flight, passing through Havana and elsewhere. He commented that this is an area of high interest that will encourage tourism from Venezuela, Latin America and the Caribbean to Moscow, Asia and Europe, and vice versa.

Chávez also stated that he agreed to set up a joint venture air transport and petroleum, with large Russian-Venezuelan tankers.

Before the press conference, broadcast by Venezolana de Television (VTV), the Head of State laid a wreath at the monument of the unknown soldier beneath the walls of the Kremlin.

"As a soldier, one is honored and the obligation of paying tribute to Russian soldiers," said the president in the context of the act.

The Venezuelan president began Thursday in Moscow a 10-day tour that will also take him to Belarus, Ukraine, Iran, Syria, Libya, Algeria and Portugal.

The two leaders will sign on Friday a series of strategic agreements in the areas of energy, finance, construction and military-technical cooperation.

On Thursday, Chavez said that initialed an agreement that will pave the way to Caracas from acquiring nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and for the construction by Russian engineers, the first nuclear power plant in Venezuela.

It also will create a Russian-Venezuelan bank that will finance investment projects in both countries.

Governments will also materialize the construction of 7,000 houses in Venezuela with Russian financing.

http://www.avn.info.ve/node/23134