The Venezuelan president arrived in Iran on Monday for a three-day official visit, with the goal of boosting ties between Tehran and Caracas. It is his ninth visit to Iran since assuming power in 1999 and comes almost one year after President Ahmadinejad paid a visit to Venezuela. Iran has expanded bilateral relations with Latin America in recent years, especially in the commerce and industrial sectors. Chavez and Iranian officials will be holding the eighth round of Iran-Venezuela energy talks as part of the two states' efforts to boost bilateral cooperation in the oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors. Over the past five years, Iran and Venezuela have signed a number of Memoranda of Understanding and contracts for joint participation and investments in oil and gas projects.