Chavez To Meet Russian Leaders In Moscow

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez inspects the honor guards on his arrival in Moscow on October 14.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is expected to meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin today in Moscow.

Chavez is in Russia at the start of a diplomatic tour to boost diplomatic ties.

An agreement to develop nuclear energy, the purchase of Russian tanks and a bi-national bank are on the agenda.

In the past three years, Chavez has bought at least $5 billion in weapons from Russia.

Moscow, meanwhile, is seeking to export atomic-energy expertise.

compiled from agency reports