The handshake between Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the special envoy of President Xi Jinping, Qiu Xiaoqi. Photo: Venezuelan Presidential Press.
On Friday, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro received Qiu Xiaoqi, the special envoy for Latin American and Caribbean affairs for Chinese President Xi Jinping, at Miraflores Palace in Caracas. The high-level meeting took place amid the US escalation of aggression against Venezuela following the recent illegal seizure of oil tankers carrying Venezuelan crude oil, some of which were destined for China, as indicated by news reports.
A public television broadcast showed President Maduro welcoming the Chinese delegation alongside Vice President Delcy Rodríguez and Foreign Minister Yván Gil. The meeting served to review over 600 existing agreements that consolidate the economic and political alliance between the two nations. Analysts suggest the dialogue also allowed the leaders to strategize against US military aggression and the recently announced naval blockade of Venezuela.
Strategic partnership and brotherly support
During the encounter, President Maduro expressed his gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping “for his brotherly support as an older brother” and acknowledged his “powerful message as a leader to the world.” Qiu reiterated that China and Venezuela are proven strategic partners, emphasizing that Venezuela represents a significant opportunity for China.
China has repeatedly condemned the US air and naval aggression launched near Venezuelan waters in the Caribbean since August. Beijing has accused the US of violating international law by seizing the two tankers.
Diplomatic resistance to imperialist aggression
Foreign Minister Gil recently held a telephone call with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, to conduct a joint assessment of the threats and US imperialist aggression against Venezuela. In a statement, Gil noted that the risks of such actions also loom over other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
“In this context, China expressed its solidarity and firm support for Venezuela in defending its sovereignty, independence, and stability, as well as its support for regional unity and respect for international law,” Gil explained.
Furthering this stance, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian declared at a December 22 press conference that China “systematically opposes illegal unilateral sanctions which—according to most legal experts—lack any basis in international law and are not authorized by the United Nations Security Council.”
“Venezuela has the right to develop mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries independently,” Lin added, noting that the international community supports Venezuela’s position in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests.
Strengthening the Caracas-Beijing alliance
The visiting Chinese delegation included several high-ranking officials: Liu Bo, the director of the Latin America and Caribbean department of the Foreign Ministry; Wang Hao, the deputy director of that department; Liu Xen, the attaché for the region; and Lan Hu, the ambassador in Caracas.
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Qiu Xiaoqi, the envoy leading the group, is a career diplomat born in 1956 who previously served as ambassador to Bolivia, Spain, Brazil, and Mexico. Since 2021, he has worked to strengthen strategic relations as the special envoy for the region, having visited Venezuela multiple times in recent years.
According to Venezuela’s Presidential Press, this meeting reaffirms the “unbreakable nature of the brotherhood” between Caracas and Beijing. In a geopolitical context defined by resistance to unilateral coercive measures, the arrival of this delegation underscores the importance China attaches to Venezuela as a trade partner, an energy provider, and a key political ally in the pursuit of sovereign development for the peoples of the Global South.
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
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