BEIJING - Venezuela's self-proclaimed president Juan Guaido has promised China he will honour bilateral agreements and said he was ready to start a dialogue with Beijing "as soon as possible". Maduro visited China in September, striking energy and gold mining deals as he sought Beijing's support for his crisis-hit nation. While many countries, including the US and Brazil, have backed Guaido, China has so far declined to pick sides, stressing its longtime position against "interfering" in the domestic affairs of other nations. Although Maduro has control of virtually all of Venezuela's political institutions and enjoys the support of the military, many blame him for the country's economic woes. China and Venezuela have been "pragmatically cooperating for a long time," said foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang.

Source: Bangkok Post February 02, 2019 06:33 UTC