China and Venezuela on Thursday signed eight agreements on a
range of issues, including two on expanding energy cooperation,
pointing to stronger ties between the two countries.
In the two agreements, the China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC)
and the PDVSA, the state-owned Venezuelan energy company, agreed to
jointly develop Venezuelan oil fields, according to China's Foreign
Ministry.
Other agreements, involving trade, energy, infrastructure
construction and tourism, were signed after Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with visiting Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez.
"I'm very satisfied with the cooperation with China in the oil
and petrochemical fields," Chavez told reporters after the
ceremony, vowing to increase oil exports to China to 500,000
barrels per day in the near future.
During talks with Hu, Chavez said Venezuela would make concerted
efforts with China to implement their proposals and strengthen
cooperation in bilateral and multilateral areas so as to develop
the bilateral strategic partnership.
Venezuela hopes to expand cooperation in energy, railway
construction, telecommunications, agriculture, tourism, culture and
education, and develop the bilateral high-level mixed committee
into an important platform for enhancing cooperation, Chavez
said.
As this year marks the fifth anniversary of the establishment of
the Sino-Venezuelan strategic partnership, Hu put forward a
four-point proposal to further bilateral relations:
First, strengthen high-level exchanges and expand strategic
consensus.
China would work with Venezuela to expand exchanges and
cooperation between governments, legislatures and political parties
and strengthen dialogue, consultation and coordination on major
issues of common concern, Hu said.
Second, deepen reciprocal cooperation and speed up common
development.
China and Venezuela will cooperate to improve the functions of
the bilateral high-level mixed committee, implementing cooperative
projects, and exploring cooperation in railway construction,
shipbuilding, oil machinery manufacturing and high technology, Hu
said.
He also pledged that China would encourage enterprises to invest
in Venezuela and welcome Venezuelan businesses to China.
China would work with Venezuela to explore their respective
potential and expand cooperation for better economic and social
benefits, Hu added.
Third, enhance cultural exchanges and mutual understanding with
expanded cultural, education, science, technology, media, and
tourism exchange.
Fourth, strengthen international cooperation, especially
coordination in international and regional organizations such as
the UN, World Trade Organization, and the Organization of American
States.
Hu added that Sino-Venezuelan relations had grown
comprehensively and deepened with frequent exchanges of high-level
visits, increasing political trust, substantial progress in
cooperation, and sound cooperation in international and regional
affairs.
Hu expressed his appreciation for the Venezuelan government's
adherence to the one-China policy and firm support for China on
major issues such as Taiwan.
Chavez said the development of bilateral relations has entered a
new stage as the two countries strengthened political mutual trust,
economic and trade cooperation, cultural exchanges and
people-to-people friendship.
He said the Venezuelan government would continue to abide by the
one-China policy.
Chavez arrived in Beijing as Hu's guest on Tuesday night, the start
of his six-day state visit.
He will also visit the eastern province of Shandong.
Chavez previously visited China in October 1999, May 2001, and
December 2004.
(Xinhua News Agency August 25, 2006)