NOVO OGARYOVO, June 28 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the opening of a Simon Bolivar cultural center in Moscow as he ushered Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez into his dacha Thursday for talks expected to focus on economic and defense cooperation.

"This is a place where Russian citizens can better familiarize themselves with Latin America and its culture," Putin said as he opened the talks at his Novo Ogaryovo retreat, outside Moscow.

Earlier in the day, Chavez attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Moscow's Bolivar center, named after the South American revolutionary leader he says is his main inspiration.

Using his trademark anti-U.S. rhetoric, he stressed the importance of defying Washington's dominance of global affairs, including cultural.

"The empire must understand that it cannot dominate the world," Chavez said.