"Oil prices are not as important to the Russian economy as before,” Dvorkovich told Bloomberg TV Monday at theWorld Economic Forum on East Asiain Jakarta, adding that other factors such as the global environment and Russia’s own polices influence its economy. "As far as oil prices are concerned, we can live with different prices and still grow.”

U.S.-traded Russian stocks last week posted theirlongest streakof weekly gains in two years as higher oil prices and a stronger ruble boosted the outlook for companies that depend on domestic demand. Oil exports represented about 13.1 percent of Russia’s economy in 2013, down from 14.6 percent in 2011, according to Bloomberg calculations based on the most recent figures from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Brent crude oil is 44 percent below last year’s peak in June, although it has climbed 38 percent since hitting a six-year low in January.

"We look at signs of recovery in the first and second quarters of the year already,” he said. "Manufacturing can still go lower, but overall financial markets, our banking system and the economy are stabilizing.”

He did not provide further details on the loan from China, a major political and economic ally of Venezuela.

Plummeting global oil prices have caused huge distress for Venezuela, a member of OPEC that relies heavily on its oil revenue to keep its lumbering command economy afloat.

Inflation in 2014 reached 68.5 percent in the South American country and many basic goods are in short supply.

China is Venezuela's largest investor and the second-largest purchaser of its oil. It has been a key ally of Venezuela since Maduro's predecessor Hugo Chavez came to power in 1999.

In January, Maduro visited Beijing and said China had agreed to more than $20 billion in investments in Venezuela.

Maduro did not say if the financing announced Sunday was part of that amount.

Russia Economy Recovering as Oil Reliance Eases, Official

JAKARTA (Bloomberg) - Russia’s economy showed signs of recovery in the first and second quarters amid a declining dependence on oil, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said.

"Oil prices are not as important to the Russian economy as before,” Dvorkovich told Bloomberg TV Monday at theWorld Economic Forum on East Asiain Jakarta, adding that other factors such as the global environment and Russia’s own polices influence its economy. "As far as oil prices are concerned, we can live with different prices and still grow.”

U.S.-traded Russian stocks last week posted theirlongest streakof weekly gains in two years as higher oil prices and a stronger ruble boosted the outlook for companies that depend on domestic demand. Oil exports represented about 13.1 percent of Russia’s economy in 2013, down from 14.6 percent in 2011, according to Bloomberg calculations based on the most recent figures from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Brent crude oil is 44 percent below last year’s peak in June, although it has climbed 38 percent since hitting a six-year low in January.

"We look at signs of recovery in the first and second quarters of the year already,” he said. "Manufacturing can still go lower, but overall financial markets, our banking system and the economy are stabilizing.”

Russia’s central bank sees the economy contracting as much as 4 percent this year after a 0.6 percent expansion last year. Standard & Poor’sstrippedRussia of its investment grade credit rating in January as the oil-price decline and sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine push the economy into its first recession since 2009.

Dvorkovich said Russia was in talks with Greece about a "partnership” rather than a rescue. "We believe Greece deserves better,” he said.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras traveled to Moscow earlier this month and discussed issues including trade, investment, a gas contract and potential financial assistance, Dvorkovich said without elaborating.

"All those issues are under discussion, but I cannot confirm any specific points,” he said.

Russia hasn’t agreed on an advance of 3 billion euros ($3.2 billion) to 5 billion euros to Greece, Interfax reported April 18, citing comments made to the Business FM radio station by Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for President Vladimir Putin.