On the same day as US President Donald Trump declared a “total and complete” blockade of Venezuela and brazenly threatened to seize the country’s land and oil (Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves), Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a telephone conversation with his Venezuelan counterpart Yván Gil at the latter’s request.
Gil stressed that the Venezuelan government and people will firmly safeguard the country’s sovereignty and independence, resolutely defend their legitimate rights and interests, and will not accept threats from any bullying power.
Wang said that that mutual trust and support are a longstanding tradition of China-Venezuela relations. China opposes all forms of unilateral bullying and supports countries in safeguarding their sovereignty and national dignity.
The following day, December 18, at the regular Foreign Ministry press conference in Beijing, spokesperson Guo Jiakun expressed China’s support for Venezuela’s call for an emergency session of the UN Security Council to discuss the situation. In response to questions from the Japanese broadcaster NHK and the Reuters news agency, he stated:
“China opposes all acts of unilateralism and bullying and supports countries in defending their sovereignty and national dignity. Venezuela has the right to independently develop mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries. We believe the international community can understand and support Venezuela’s stance of protecting its own legitimate rights and interests. China supports Venezuela’s request for holding an emergency session of the UN Security Council.”
The following article was originally published by Global Times.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday held a phone conversation with Venezuela’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yván Gil, at the latter’s request, according to a readout published by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Gil briefed Wang on the current domestic situation in Venezuela, stressing that the Venezuelan government and people will firmly safeguard the country’s sovereignty and independence, resolutely defend their legitimate rights and interests, and will not accept threats from any bullying power.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that China and Venezuela are strategic partners, and that mutual trust and support are a longstanding tradition of China-Venezuela relations. China opposes all forms of unilateral bullying and supports countries in safeguarding their sovereignty and national dignity.
Venezuela has the right to independently develop mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries, and it is believed that the international community understands and supports Venezuela’s position in defending its own legitimate rights and interests, said Wang.
