Venezuela and Russia are looking at starting 46 joint development projects, officials said Thursday, in a deepening of a strategic alliance that already has Washington unsettled.

Venezuelan Vice President Ramon Carrizalez said after a meeting in Caracas with a Russian deputy prime minister, Igor Sechin, that the plans showed the two countries had `a constructive relationship oriented towards development and growth.`

Sechin said two nations were creating `a legal base on which to develop relations.`

The meeting prepared the way for a November trip to Venezuela by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

The 46 projects discussed covered initiatives in the financial, industrial, mining, aerospace, energy and telecommunications sectors, officials said.

By way of example, Sechin mentioned the construction of a gas platform off-shore from Venezuela, the building of an aluminum plant, plans for automobile production, and Venezuela`s acquisition of Russian planes.

Cooperation in the pacific use of nuclear energy was also discussed.

Carrizalez added that Venezuela and Russia, which have already signed a memorandum of understanding for the creation of a bi-national bank, were also `starting to examine the use of common currencies.` He did not elaborate.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro said, meanwhile, that a direct flight between Caracas and Moscow could soon be created.

Both countries are major oil producers which have shown low-level antagonism toward the United States.

They are planning joint naval exercises in the Caribbean in November.

US military chiefs have said they are concerned about the military build-up in Venezuela and the US State Department has said it will be watching the Russian-Venezuelan naval exercises `very closely.`

Sechin is here through Friday with a delegation of Russian businessmen.