China, Venezuela Launch Bilateral Business Committee

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has signed another round of strategic agreements in areas such as technology, education energy, trade, culture, health and other areas during his official state visit to China. The deals, 14 in total, were signed Saturday during the inauguration of the Venezuela-China Bilateral Business Forum, a working committee to promote bilateral relations between both countries.

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"Today, the China-Venezuela Business Committee officially goes into effect. It will be the governing body and facilitator of relations pertaining to economic prosperity, expansion of investments and fluid trade between China and Venezuela".

Maduro said the commission marks a new stage in the relations his country has with China and its leader, President Xi Jinping.

As part of his second day of activities in China, Maduro visited the Council of China for the Promotion of International Trade, an organization that is a conglomeration of several of China's largest companies and has the country's largest company membership base. He told Chinese investors and businessmen that their investments in Venezuela would be promoted and protected since it will form a vital part of the government's plans to develop industries and redevelop old ones.

Maduro also pointed out that he has received Xi's support for Venezuela's Economic Recovery, Growth and Prosperity Program, as well as initiatives meant to strengthen strategic alliances.

"I have received the support of the People's Republic of China for the dynamization of economic, commercial, financial and multidimensional relations that we have managed to build all these years," Maduro said.

Prior to his talks with Xi, Maduro visited the Mao Zedong mausoleum to pay tribute to the Chinese leader. He honored Mao by bowing three times in front of a wreath at the massive mausoleum facing Tiananmen Square and heaping praise on Communist China's founder.

"We are beginning this state visit in the best way because we have come to pay tribute to the great helmsman Mao Zedong... I was very moved because it really reminds of one of the great founders of a multipolar 21st century," Maduro said as he went on to praise Mao as a "giant of the homeland of humanity" and a "giant of revolutionary ideas."