Venezuela's Rodriguez arrives in oil-hungry India

NEW DELHI: Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday to deepen cooperation between the oil exporter and energy-hungry India, the world’s most populous nation.

Her five-day visit comes as India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, ramps up purchases of Venezuelan crude to offset supply disruptions linked to war in the Middle East.

Speaking after landing in New Delhi, Rodriguez said she expected to hold “very fruitful” discussions.

“We are going to have a very productive agenda, and I hope to discuss areas of cooperation that can help address the most pressing needs of the Venezuelan people,” she said, speaking on Venezuelan television.

New Delhi’s foreign ministry said Rodriguez, who was given a red carpet welcome, would meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.

Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement that “the visit will further deepen India-Venezuela ties.”

Rodriguez has led Venezuela, which accounts for around 17 percent of global crude reserves, since January, when US forces captured former socialist president Nicolas Maduro.

Rodriguez was originally scheduled to be in New Delhi this week to participate in a summit on the conservation of big cat species.

But the conference was postponed to ensure the participation of African nations grappling with an Ebola outbreak.