CCTV9英语新闻：中国与委内瑞拉发布建立全面战略合作伙伴关系的联合声明（在线收听）

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Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro met in Caracas yesterday to work on improving the two countries’ relationship with a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) meets with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro in Caracas July 20, 2014. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

Xi said that China-Venezuela relations are at an important stage that connects the past to the future. Xi made a four-point proposal to lift China-Venezuela relations to a partnership that features strategic mutual trust, comprehensive cooperation, mutual benefits, win-win results, and common development.

President Maduro said that China and Venezuela are enjoying solid mutual political trust and that the two countries are sharing identical views on numerous issues. The Venezuelan president said that he would embody the will of Chavez and strengthen all-around cooperation with China. He added that Venezuela welcomes Chinese enterprises to expand investment in his country, particularly in petrochemical industry and the construction of its special economic zones.

Before their talks, Xi laid a wreath at the tomb of the late South America liberator Simon Bolivar. The Chinese president arrived in Caracas on Sunday for a state visit to Venezuela, part of his four-nation Latin America tour that will take him to Cuba next.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro (R) arrive for a meeting in Caracas, Venezuela, July 20, 2014. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro (L) in Caracas July 20, 2014. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Chinese President Xi Jinping (5th L) holds talks with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro (7th R) in Caracas, Venezuela, July 20, 2014. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)