At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro Moros is paying an official visit to China from September 8 to 14. Caracas and Beijing are comprehensive strategic partners, share long-standing interests in trade and energy investments, and are set to build on a fresh blueprint for bilateral cooperation in the new era.
The foundation for Maduro’s China visit were established after constructive exchanges between Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez and senior Chinese officials, including Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. Rodriguez headed the country’s most senior delegation to China in five years, facilitating efforts to steer their multi-decade relationship towards the “next phase of high-level exchanges.”
As Maduro lands in China, there is substantial optimism to consolidate key platforms of strategic cooperation, chiefly the China-Venezuela high-level joint commission. This platform has played a major role in deepening coordination on pressing regional and international affairs, and illuminated project investments in a range of sectors spanning mining, oil, energy and finance.
Maduro’s long-awaited visit serves as an ideal opportunity for both partners to deepen future collaborations in the energy investment space, a priority focus for Chinese entities that have closely engaged with their Venezuelan counterparts. “The two countries’ political mutual trust has grown more solid, and our cooperation in various sectors has further deepened,” said Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry at a recent press briefing.
Interestingly, China and Venezuela’s principled opposition to “hegemonism and unilateralism” serves the common interests of a more united and less divided world. Leaders have put their definition into action by legitimately calling-out unilateral sanctions and counterproductive blockades on Venezuela, recognizing the role of such measures in exacerbating human suffering and complicating livelihoods of entire nations.
Through flexible loans and sustained financial assistance, China has earnestly prioritized Venezuela’s path to national development. Beijing emerged as a vital source of financial support in 2007, and has extended about $60 billion in loans to Caracas to support national efforts on capacity-building. Venezuela’s recent entry into the China-led International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) adds to the multipronged nature of their fast-growing engagements.
Maduro’s high-level visit could serve as a springboard to strengthen common-ground in the sustainable infrastructure realm. New development synergies under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) can push forward Venezuela’s opportunities on sustainable infrastructure financing, especially when both countries witnessed BRI’s steady region-wide progression under the China–Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) forums.
Important groundwork for expanding China-Venezuela strategic cooperation is also intact. By Vice President Rodriguez’s own admission, both sides have reinforced their “bilateral relationship, expanded strategic cooperation and joint international work for peace and the respect of the UN charter’s principles and goals.”
As a testament to their diplomatic symbolism, China brings a track-record of utilizing international diplomacy in support of the livelihoods and legitimate rights of the Venezuelan masses. That includes a principled stand against unilateral coercive measures and country-specific rights mechanisms at the UN Human Rights Council, emphasizing the need to honor the will and wishes of the Venezuelan masses.
“[Venezuela] is sincerely grateful to China’s firm support for Venezuela’s just cause against unilateral sanctions and unjustified blockades and firmly believes that the bilateral relationship will usher in a brighter future,” RodrÃguez told Wang last week.
By implementing the major consensus of President Xi and President Maduro, there is little doubt that Chinese-Venezuelan ties will continue to strengthen in the face of a fast-changing global landscape. Maduro’s signature visit is a major leap towards lifting their comprehensive strategic partnership to a whole new level.
Hannan Hussain is an international affairs commentator and author. He is the recipient of the Fulbright Award in Public Policy at the University of Maryland, and an alumnus of the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations.The article reflects the author’s opinions and not necessarily the views of The Southern African Times.Â
