Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil before their meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing ahead of the China-CELAC Forum, on May 12, 2025. Photo: Florence Lo/EFE/EPA.
Foreign minister of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yi, met with his Venezuelan counterpart, Yván Gil, in Beijing, within the framework of the China-CELAC Forum. During their meeting, the two diplomats strengthened the high-level strategic partnership between China and Venezuela and reaffirmed the mutual trust and friendship between the governments and peoples of the two countries.
In the context of his visit to Beijing, the Chinese capital, to participate in the 4th ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum, the Venezuelan foreign minister said this Monday, May 12, that the delegation is attending with great hope of consolidating the unity of the Latin American region with the power that China has become.
“A power of peace, a power of balance for the world in general,” said FM Gil in reference to what many analysts envision as a great opportunity for China to boost its trade and cooperation relation with Latin America and the Caribbean after the recent tariff war launched by the Trump administration.
FM Gil also highlighted the recent meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping and Nicolás Maduro in Moscow, during the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Victory in the Great Patriotic War, where they discussed all aspects of Venezuela–China cooperation.
In September 2023, the relationship between the two countries was elevated to an All-Weather Strategic Partnership. “For us, it has been a truly important experience,” said FM Gil. “We have been able to make progress in areas such as energy, trade, agriculture, science, and technology. We have made progress in each and every detail of a truly comprehensive relationship, as President Xi Jinping stated in the meeting with President Nicolás Maduro—a strategic relationship that is fundamental for Venezuela.”
The Venezuelan foreign minister emphasized that the world faces extremely important challenges in the growing challenge to the global order and that China can help ensure the security of developing nations.
“We in Venezuela are proud to have this friendship, to be able to advance the various projects we have developed in this new phase,” said Foreign Minister Gil.
A relationship of trust
For his part, Foreign Minister Wang Yi commented that China and Venezuela are good friends who trust each other.
He affirmed that his country is willing to work with the South American nation to implement the latest consensus reached with the two heads of state, promote the China-CELAC strategic partnership, achieve new tangible results, and better benefit both peoples.
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“Venezuela has long been committed to promoting unity and self-reliance in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said FM Wang Yi. “It is also a champion of building the CELAC mechanism and an active participant in the China-Latin America Forum. China highly values this.”
He also noted that President Xi Jinping will deliver an important speech this Tuesday at the opening of the China-CELAC forum, which will outline specific plans for cooperation in key areas for the two regions over the next three years.
“We believe that tomorrow’s meeting will send a message of the times for unity and cooperation between China and Latin America, injecting new impetus into the building of a community with a shared future,” added FM Wang Yi. “We believe that Venezuela will also make an important contribution to the success of the conference.”
(Últimas Noticias) by Kleybergel González
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/SL
