The dictator of Venezuela, Nicholas Ripeheld a meeting with this Monday in Caracas Qiu XiaoqiSpecial Envoy of the Chinese President Xi Jinpingin a context marked by growing tensions USA. The meeting took place at the Miraflores Palace and was broadcast by the state broadcaster Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), the executive vice president also took part, Delcy Rodriguezthe chancellor Yvan Gil and the Chinese ambassador LanHu. As reported VTVThe main objective was to review bilateral cooperative relations based on more than 600 agreements in force between both nations.
The Chinese regime has repeatedly stated this his rejection of the US air fleet deployment in the Caribbeanbegan last August near Venezuelan waters with the argument of fighting drug trafficking. Beijing believes this operation violates international law, especially after the seizure of two oil tankers carrying Venezuelan crude.
In a press conference on December 22, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said his country “systematically opposes illegal unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law and have not been approved by the United Nations Security Council.” In addition, he affirmed that “Venezuela has the right to independently develop mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries” and reiterated that the international community “understands and supports Venezuela’s position in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests.”
For its part, the Maduro government described the meeting as “high-level” and noted that it had taken place “To consolidate the new multipolar world order”. During the meeting, Maduro thanked Xi Jinping for his “brotherhood as an older brother and his strong message as a leader to the world.”
Caracas stressed that the visit underscores the strategic importance that China attaches to its relations with Venezuela, “not only as a trade and energy partner, but as a fundamental political ally in the region.” Diplomatic relations, established in 1974 and “raised to historic levels” by former presidents Hugo Chávez and Jiang Zemin, were viewed by Caracas as “a pillar of regional peace and a model of mutual cooperation.”
Meanwhile, tensions with the USA continue to rise. Last Friday the American President Donald Trump announced an attack on a “great facility“as part of his campaign against a suspected drug trafficking network that Washington says is run by the Venezuelan government. However, Trump did not specify whether the attack took place on Venezuelan territory, only clarifying on Monday that it was at a dock without specifying the location New York Times reported that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) carried out a drone attack on a port facility in Venezuela last week.
The United States has stepped up operations in the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans and carried out bombings of suspected drug boats, causing more than 100 deaths According to the Venezuelan press, in recent months he has even threatened to invade under the argument of the fight against drugs. On Thursday, Maduro said in an interview that Venezuela’s defense system “has guaranteed and will guarantee the territorial integrity of the country,” although he neither confirmed nor denied the alleged ground attack.
(With information from EFE and Europa Press)
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