CRI听力:China, Venezuela Sign Deals to Expand Cooperation

Venezuela and China have signed a raft of new bilateral agreements as the two countries attempt to broaden their cooperation.

The signing of the agreements has been overseen by visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro.

"China has full confidence in the development of our bilateral ties. We're willing to make efforts, along with Venezuela, to always be friends, to have mutual trust and be excellent partners of mutual cooperation to move our relationship ahead constantly."

The two sides have signed nearly 40 new agreements in the areas including technology and innovation, oil and mining, finance, land transportation, infrastructure and agriculture.

Xi Jinping also says China stands ready to expand satellite technology transfers to Venezuela.

He's also calling on Chinese companies to help build Venezuela's special economic zones.

For his part, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says political contacts between the two sides remains solid.

"Today, we've decided to elevate that path to a higher level and declare a comprehensive strategic association between China and Venezuela. So, as of today, we begin to construct a comprehensive alliance."

The Chinese president also visited the tomb of former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and laid a wreath at the tomb of the South America Liberator Simon Bolivar.

Xi Jinping was conferred the "liberator medal" by his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, who praised the Chinese president for his contributions to promoting bilateral ties and maintaining world peace and development.

Xi Jinping also met with National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello.

The Chinese president is in Caracas for the third leg of his tour of Latin America, which will also take him to Cuba.