A reception was held?in Beijing?on Friday to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Venezuela.

The two countries have witnessed comprehensive and rapid development of bilateral relations over the past 35 years, featuring frequent high-level visits, deepening mutual political trust and achievements of pragmatic cooperation in various fields, said Li Xiaolin, vice chairperson of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), when addressing the reception.

Li said the two countries have made active progress in cooperation on energy, agriculture, high-technology and infrastructure construction since they established the strategic partnership for common development in 2001.

According to Li, Venezuela has become China's fourth biggest oil supplier and its fifth biggest trading partner in Latin America. In 2008, China-Venezuela trade volume reached 9.85 billion U.S. dollars, hitting the highest level in history with an increase of 68.2 percent from that of 2007.

The bilateral non-governmental exchanges are increasingly closer, with more and more visits in areas of culture, education and tourism, said Li, adding that the CPAFFC and China-Latin America Friendship Association would make further efforts to contribute to the friendship and cooperation between the two countries and peoples.

Rocio Maneiro Gonzalez, Venezuelan ambassador to China, said that the two countries, which respects and supports each other, have seen active results from their cooperation.

The ambassador said the establishment of bilateral strategic partnership, with agriculture and energy cooperation as two pillars, has played an important role in promoting the Venezuela-China relations.

Besides, high-level visits, technical personnel exchanges and close collaboration in international affairs between the two countries have also advanced bilateral ties substantively, the ambassador added.

"I strongly believe that, Venezuela-China relations will be further consolidated and strengthened with joint efforts of both sides," she said.

China and Venezuela forged diplomatic ties in June, 1974.

(Xinhua News Agency July 4, 2009)