The president arrived in China last Friday, and during this time he has held talks with businessmen and authorities from the cities of Shenzhen, Shanghai and the province of Shandong, poles of technological, industrial and economic development in China.

Although details of his agenda in the capital are unknown, he is expected to participate in the 17th China-Venezuela High-Level Joint Commission; in addition, he will be received by President Xi Jinping for official talks.

The president broadcast his program “With Maduro More” from China, in which he announced the twinning between the cities of Shenzhen and La Guaira, in Venezuela. He highlighted the potential for cooperation in technology in health, agriculture, industry, applied artificial intelligence, among other areas.

Maduro announced that both parties will work for the development of a Special Economic Zone in La Guaira, and that a Venezuelan delegation will soon travel to China to deepen this twinning.

Maduro revealed that Venezuela was invited to the Shanghai International Import Fair programmed for next November, for which “we are going to organize a powerful delegation of businessmen and producers from all over the country. (…) We are committed to building Venezuela’s export vocation and we have decided to create a comprehensive shared development agreement between Shanghai and the State of Carabobo, due to their industrial and productive strengths.”

Maduro will remain in China until September 14th, when he must leave to “fulfill other international commitments,” the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

jrr/llp/lam/idm