China: 'Venezuelan Oil Sales Are Legal and Should Be Respected'

China's Foreign Minister spokesperson Geng Shuang Wednesday informed that his country will continue to cooperate with Venezuela even though the U.S. tries to convince it not to.

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The Asian country also hopes that Washington will withdraw its sanctions and help find a peaceful solution to the political impasse in the South American nation.

"We hope that the U.S. will become aware of the facts, stop abusing with sanctions and other coercive measures, and work with all parties to find a political solution to the Venezuelan problem," Geng said and added that "Chinese-Venezuelan cooperation will continue to develop."

These statements were made shortly after Washington's Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams admitted that the United States has tried to convince China not to buy more Bolivarian oil.

"Neither Russia nor China let themselves be pressed. Despite US sanctions, they will continue to cooperate with Venezuela."

The Chinese authorities, however, have ruled out that possibility since purchases of Venezuelan commodities are "legal and beneficial to the peoples of both countries and as such, they should be respected and protected," as the Foreign Minister said.

China also expressed its rejection of the unilateral sanctions that the United States imposed on the subsidiary of the Russian company Rosneft for buying Venezuelan oil.

"We oppose any interference in other countries' internal affairs just as we are against unilateral sanctions and extraterritorial jurisdiction," Shuang emphasized, adding that intergovernmental relations" must be based on compliance with international laws and basic standards."