Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), arrived on Sunday in Caracas to begin a three-day visit to Venezuela to boost relations between the two nations.

 

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, was met by Venezuela's Foreign Minister, Nicolas Maduro, and Ju Yinjie, China's ambassador to Venezuela, at Maiquetia International Airport, 30 km from Caracas.

 

In a written statement given to the press at the airport, Li said China and Venezuela have a long history of friendship and his visit aims to deepen the friendship, as well as improve understanding, broaden consensus and boost cooperation.

 

The two nations began diplomatic relations in 1974. And the relations have been growing at a fast pace since 1999, when Hugo Chavez took office as Venezuela's president.

 

Since then, "mutual high-level visits have been more frequent, and understanding, confidence and cooperation have deepened in all fields," the statement said.

 

Li described Venezuela as an important country in the Latin American region and rest of the world as well.

 

"The Chinese government values its friendly relations with Venezuela, and we consider that Venezuela is a trustworthy friend and a sincere partner in Latin America," the statement said.

 

Li will have a formal meeting with Chavez, and other senior officials, to review the two nations' outstanding agreements, and seek new areas for collaboration.

 

Li's delegation will also pay homage to Simon Bolivar, the Caracas-born Latin-America independence hero, and visit his grave and the home where he was born.

 

He will also meet officials from the National Assembly, the nation's legislature.

 

It is the second stop on a five-nation tour that takes the senior official to Surinam, Peru and Samoa, an island nation in the Pacific. The tour began in Mexico last week.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2007)