Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will visit Venezuela on Friday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Tuesday.

A statement of the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry said that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev confirmed Putin's visit to Venezuela during a phone call with Chavez.

The Venezuelan leader expressed his sorrow for the victims of the subway attacks in Moscow during the phone conversation.

The statement said that during the conversation, Medvedev said Putin's visit to Venezuela is an opportunity to move ahead on the cooperation mechanisms between the two countries on energy, industry, agriculture, defense and other areas.

Medvedev also invited Chavez to visit Moscow again in order to strengthen the true friendship between both presidents and the strategic alliance between both countries.

Both presidents agreed to discuss a date for a meeting between them, according to the statement.