Venezuela and China Celebrate 50 Years of Bilateral Ties, Reaffirm Strategic Partnership

Caracas, June 6, 2024 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Yván Gil has wrapped up a four-day visit to China to celebrate the countries’ 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and to follow up the recently established “all-weather strategic partnership.”

Gil arrived in Beijing on June 4 to participate in celebratory events and held a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to “strengthen the friendship and strategic cooperation […] for the benefit of our region.”

The Venezuelan minister said Caracas is looking forward to deepening joint work with China in various areas, including trade, technology, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, aerospace, education and cultural exchanges.

During the meeting, Gil called on reinforcing the countries’ alliance to oppose Western economic sanctions that affect the Global South’s efforts for social development. 

Since 2017, Venezuela has been the target of economic sanctions and an oil blockade imposed by the United States and its European allies that severely exacerbated an economic crisis. In recent years, the Caribbean nation has ramped up ties with allied countries and has experienced a modest economic recovery.

Speaking of international affairs, Venezuela’s top diplomat said that the Maduro government firmly backs the one-China principle and is committed to working with Beijing to boost Latin America-China relations to promote a multipolar world.

For his part, Wang Yi reassured the Chinese government is willing to broaden cooperation with Caracas so as to contribute to the South American country’s processes of industrialization and economic diversification.

The Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister added that Beijing supports Venezuela’s “greater role” in global affairs as well as the country’s right to explore its own “development path suited to its own national conditions” and defend its “national sovereignty and dignity.” 

“As good friends, partners and comrades, regardless of how the international and regional situation changes, China will unwaveringly develop China-Venezuela relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, deepen pragmatic cooperation in various fields, and jointly oppose any external interference and bullying actions,” Wang said according to The Global Times.

Venezuela and China have deepened their strategic alliance in the political and economic fields as both governments aim to defy Western dominance and unilateral sanctions. 

In September 2023, President Nicolás Maduro and President Xi Jinping upgraded the countries’ relations to an “all-weather strategic partnership” and signed 31 agreements to boost collaboration in areas from oil, scientific development, healthcare, tourism, education exchange, mining, technology to space exploration.

The new level of diplomatic partnership was considered historic with Venezuela being the first Latin American country to enter the “all-weather” category reserved by Beijing for its closest allies.

During his visit to Beijing, Minister Gil likewise met with other authorities and members of the Communist Party of China (CPC), among them the vice chairman of the National People’s Congress  (NPC) Standing Committee, Wu Weihua, and the director of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), Zhang Kejian.

Venezuela’s current ties with China include the training of prospective astronauts and participation in future space missions. Caracas has launched three satellites since 2008 in collaboration with Beijing.

The Venezuelan diplomat visited the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS) and the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences (BAAFS). Finally, Gil inaugurated a Simón Bolívar park in the Venezuelan embassy in Beijing to mark 50 years of bilateral relationships.

On Wednesday, a high-level Venezuelan delegation also traveled to Russia for the 27th edition of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). Between June 5-8, more than 17,000 delegations from 130 countries will meet to discuss global business opportunities related to this year’s theme “The Basis of a Multipolar World. Formation of New Growth Points.”

This is Caracas’ second time participating in the high-level gathering, with the goal of building ties with worldwide economic actors, especially Russia.