New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held bilateral talks with Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, with discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in key sectors including energy, trade and investment.

The high-level engagement comes at a time when India is exploring diversified sources of crude oil imports amid ongoing disruptions in global energy markets caused by the West Asia crisis. Energy cooperation figured prominently in the discussions as both countries look to expand their long-standing partnership in the sector.

Rodriguez arrived in India on Wednesday for a five-day official visit aimed at enhancing bilateral ties and exploring new avenues of cooperation. The visit is expected to provide fresh momentum to relations between the two countries across multiple sectors.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the visit would contribute to further deepening India-Venezuela relations and expanding engagement in areas of mutual interest.

India was once among the largest buyers of Venezuelan crude oil, importing more than 400,000 barrels per day before purchases were halted in 2020 due to international sanctions and compliance concerns. Following changes in the geopolitical landscape and easing of restrictions earlier this year, Indian refiners have resumed sourcing oil from Venezuela, with imports rising significantly in recent months.

The Venezuelan delegation accompanying Rodriguez includes senior ministers handling foreign affairs, economy and finance, science and technology, communication and information, and transportation, reflecting the broad scope of discussions planned during the visit.

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Officials from both sides are expected to review existing cooperation and identify opportunities for collaboration in areas such as energy security, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, transportation and technology.