Presidents Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela and Xi Jinping of China having a conversation during a dinner at the Kremlin in Russia. Photo: Presidential Press.
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—President Nicolás Maduro has held a conversation with his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, during a dinner hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, in Moscow.
The event, which took place this Thursday, May 9, welcomed numerous dignitaries from around the world who will participate in the grand parade marking the 80th anniversary of the Red Army’s victory over the Nazis.
Venezuela and China continue to uphold an “all-weather strategic partnership,” with collaboration evident across multiple domains such as politics, economics, and diplomacy.
As Venezuela’s primary trading partner, China has established more than 600 bilateral agreements with the South American nation. This cooperation is fueled by a shared determination to confront global challenges and promote the well-being of both peoples.
Last week, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez had visited China to further refine the details of bilateral cooperation, focusing on key sectors including oil, gas, gold, and artificial intelligence, among others.
Intense diplomatic agenda
On Thursday, President Maduro held a series of bilateral meetings on the second day of his official visit to the Russian Federation, as reported by Últimas Noticias.
On Wednesday night, President Maduro met with the head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, at the Kremlin. Kadyrov, known for being a fearless military commander, has been the highest authority of Chechnya since 2007.
Both leaders emphasized the importance of consolidating a multipolar world based on equality and respect among countries. They also agreed on their rejection of external interference, particularly by the US colonial regime, as reported by Telesur.
The first meeting the Venezuelan head of state had on Thursday was with his Kazakh counterpart, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to strengthen diplomatic ties between the two nations that share a commitment to sovereignty and social justice.
Relations between the two countries have evolved significantly over recent years, in strategic areas such as energy, international politics, and the multilateral diplomatic arena. The Kazakh leader invited President Maduro for a state visit to his country, located in Central Asia.
President Maduro later met with President Ibrahim Traoré from Burkina Faso, an African nation with which Venezuela maintains a bilateral relationship that received a significant boost following the official visit to Venezuela of then-Burkinabé Prime Minister Apollinaire Kyelem de Tambéla in 2023.
Traoré has demonstrated particularly in recent years the deep anti-imperialist roots of the African people and the country of Burkina Faso, such as his expulsion of French colonial influence and his work in building the Alliance of Sahel States. This has made him the target of coup attempts and assassination plots, the latest of which was defeated a few weeks ago.
Finally, the Venezuelan head of state met with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel. The leaders reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to strategic cooperation and the building of supportive alliances in a global context.
“Meeting with President Díaz-Canel in Russia is another demonstration to the world of how sovereign peoples build alliances of respect, cooperation, and peace,” President Maduro said. “Excellent day of work!”
“Cuba is never alone, nor will it ever be alone,” he emphasized. “Cuba will have the support of the peoples of the world and of empathetic, courageous, and humane governments.”
Earlier, Presidents Maduro and Díaz-Canel jointly led a ceremony in honor of the Liberator, Simón Bolívar, at a statue of the Venezuelan independence hero at Lomonosov Av. in Moscow.
President Maduro meets with the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church
Later in the day, the Venezuelan leader was greeted by Russia’s highest religious authority with a handshake, as a symbol of respect and friendship. The two officials began a pleasant conversation, during which Vladimir Mikhailovich expressed his admiration for Venezuela.
During this meeting, President Maduro stated that Venezuela is a nation that seeks to guarantee peace and tranquility in a world of equality. At the end of the meeting, both leaders shared a warm farewell. They took a brief tour to display some works of art, take a group photo for history, and exchange gifts as a symbol of friendship.
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
OT/JRE/AU
