On May 13, Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao held talks with Venezuelan Vice President Jorge Arreaza in Caracas on his official visit to Venezuela.

Li Yuanchao said that Venezuela is a major country in Latin America with a geographical location of strategic importance, rich natural resources and diligent and intellegent people. In recent years, Venezuela has achieved a comparatively fast economic growth, a constantly improved living standard of the people and made positive contribution to promoting the Latin American integration and South-South cooperation with its ever rising international and regional influence. China wishes that the Venezuelan government and people would make more achievements in the great cause of national development.

Li Yuanchao said that China and Venezuela have a long history of friendly exchanges. Since the establishment of diplomatic relationship in 1974, in particular since the two sides established strategic partnership of common development in 2001, China-Venezuela relations have entered the new stage of comprehensive and rapid development. Political mutual trust has deepened and cooperation in various fields has been fruitful. The two sides have been supportive of each other on issues concerning their core concerns. Traditional friendship has been deepened and the two sides have become reliable good friends of each other and good partners of mutually beneficial cooperation. Under the current new circumstances, China and Venezuela are facing the common task of promoting development, improving people's livelihood and safeguarding stability. The new Chinese leadership will uphold the banner of peace, development, cooperation and win-win outcome, and make joint efforts with Venezuela in the following aspects to push forward China-Venezuela relations to a new high. First, the two countries would maintain frequent high-level exchanges, deepen political mutual trust so as to constantly elevate the friendly relations between the two countries. Second, the two countries would expand practical cooperation and promote common development based on the principles of mutual benefit, and further enhance cooperation in key sectors of energy, agriculture, infrastructure and high-tech. Third, the two countries would share experience and strengthen exchanges so as to learn from each other for common progress. Fourth, the two countries would strengthen coordination in multilateral settings, and jointly safeguard the interests of developing countries so as to make greater contributions to world peace and stability.

Arreaza said that Vice President Li Yuanchao's visit to Venezuela is very important and it will certainly promote the all-around development of Venezuela-China relationship. Arreaza agreed with Vice President Li's suggestions on pushing forward bilateral relations. He said that Venezuela-China relationship is rich in meaning. Bilateral cooperation on energy, agriculture, housing construction as well as science and technology is conducive to promoting Venezuela's economic and social development and common development of the two countries. The Venezuelan side is willing to work with China to make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms between the two countries, deepen Venezuela-China strategic partnership and bring more benefits to the two peoples.