Chinese, Venezuelan VPs pledge enhanced ties, cooperation

Visiting Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao Monday pledged enhanced cooperation in key areas with Venezuela, saying Beijing was committed to continuous development of the bilateral ties.

Li, who arrived here Sunday, made the remarks during a meeting with his Venezuelan counterpart Jorge Arreaza.

Li said Venezuela is an important country in Latin America with an important strategic position, abundant natural resources and hardworking and intelligent people. In recent years, Venezuela's economy had grown rapidly, with people's living standards improving and the country's global and regional influence rising.

Since the two nations forged diplomatic ties in 1974, especially since the establishment of their strategic partnership of common development in 2001, the bilateral relationship has entered a new stage of comprehensive and rapid development, with deepening political mutual trust and fruitful cooperation in various fields, Li said.

China and Venezuela supported each other on issues concerning each other's core interests, and the two countries have become good friends and good partners who trusted each other and carried out mutually beneficial cooperation, he said.

Pledging to make continuous efforts to push bilateral ties to new levels, Li made a four-point proposal to further develop China-Venezuela relations.

First, the two countries should maintain close high-level exchanges, deepen political mutual trust and constantly improve the level of bilateral friendly relations, Li said.

Secondly, the two countries should expand practical cooperation and promote common development based upon the principle of mutual benefit, he said, highlighting key areas such as energy, agriculture, infrastructure construction and high technology.

Thirdly, the two countries needed to promote the exchange of experience and make progress together through mutual learning, he said.

Fourthly, Li said the two countries should strengthen multilateral cooperation to jointly safeguard the interests of developing countries and make greater contributions to world peace and stability.

Arreaza said Li's visit to Venezuela would promote the comprehensive development of China-Venezuela relations.

He said cooperation with China is bolstering both Venezuela's socioeconomic progress and the common development of the two countries.

Arreaza said Venezuela is ready to work with China to achieve the full potential of existing bilateral mechanisms and deepen their strategic partnership in all areas so as to benefit the two peoples.