New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held bilateral talks with Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodriguez in New Delhi, with discussions focusing on expanding cooperation across key sectors including energy, trade, investment, healthcare and renewable energy. The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
Rodriguez is on a five-day working visit to India from June 3 to June 7, accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes Venezuela’s ministers handling foreign affairs, economy and finance, science and technology, communication and information, and transportation. The visit is aimed at further strengthening the longstanding partnership between the two countries.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two sides are reviewing the full spectrum of India-Venezuela relations and exploring opportunities for deeper engagement in areas such as energy security, trade and investment, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, transportation and renewable energy.
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar met Rodriguez and reaffirmed India’s commitment to enhancing ties with the South American nation. In a post on X, the external affairs minister said he valued Rodriguez’s longstanding contribution to the India-Venezuela relationship and expressed confidence that her discussions with Prime Minister Modi would further strengthen bilateral cooperation.
The Ministry of External Affairs had welcomed Rodriguez upon her arrival in New Delhi on Wednesday, describing the visit as an opportunity to deepen bilateral ties and build on the momentum in the partnership.
The visit comes at a time when energy cooperation is emerging as a key pillar of India-Venezuela relations. India has been increasing its crude oil imports from the oil-rich South American nation, while both countries are looking to expand collaboration in several strategic sectors.
Rodriguez was initially scheduled to travel to India for the International Big Cat Alliance Summit on June 1, which was later deferred. Her current visit has been structured as a formal working engagement focused on advancing bilateral cooperation and strengthening diplomatic and economic ties.
