Strong bond of friendship

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's ongoing visit to China is an important event in the relationship between Beijing and Caracas. With the two poised to embrace the 40th anniversary of the founding of diplomatic ties next year, the visit has presented itself as a golden opportunity for the two partners to carry on their old friendship and build an even brighter future together.

Though tens of thousands of miles apart, bilateral cooperation between China and Venezuela has been on a fast track in recent years. The charismatic late Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez made great contributions to this desirable trend, and it is heartening to see his successor is keen to forge an even stronger strategic partnership with China.

President Xi Jinping and Maduro signed 12 agreements on Sunday in fields such as finance, energy, education, aerospace and infrastructure. The two countries will also stage a series of cultural events to deepen mutual understanding and friendly feelings between the two peoples. These initiatives will no doubt inject new vitality into the pragmatic cooperation between them.