Relations with Venezuela are strong as solid stones – Xi Jinping

The president of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, said relations with Venezuela are strong as solid stones and the agreements reached will contribute to the development of relations between the two countries.

He said the purpose of his visit to the country was to promote friendship, expand cooperation and promote joint development with Venezuela and the exchange in energy, education, cultural, agricultural, infrastructure and technology with Venezuela was an engine for the integral development of both countries.

In Venezuela the Chinese have signed more than 200 agreements on cultural, economic, oil and educational area and stressed that China, through the Fund financing, has supported more than 220 projects of production and social welfare.

He said, "We have become the second largest trading partner and second largest importer of oil from Venezuela."

President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela held a grand welcome ceremony for Xi Jinping at the airport in Caracas when he arrived on July 20, 2014 starting his state visit to Venezuela. Xi Jinping stressed that people become friends despite distance as long as they understand each other. China and Venezuela have become sincere friends across the ocean and strategic partners of common development.