President Xi Meets Venezuela President Maduro In Beijing

Chinese state media has confirmed that Chinese President Xi Jinping has met Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Beijing.

• Reuters reports that, after the meeting, Xi said China, "will always support Venezuela in safeguarding its national sovereignty."
• The meeting is the first formal bilat between Xi and Maduro in five years as Caracas seeks Chinese support to bolster its energy sector and endorse a bid to become a member of the BRICS grouping.
• Bloomberg reports: "A delegation from Venezuela, led by Vice President Delcy Rodriguez and Oil Minister Pedro Tellechea, arrived in Shanghai early this week [to discuss] potential joint ventures between China and state-run Petroleos de Venezuela SA..."
• Bloomberg: "The delegation has met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Dilma Rousseff, president of the New Development Bank, headquartered in Shanghai and launched by BRICS members. They have also visited Shanghai’s Oil and Gas Exchange.."
• China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning described the two countries as "comprehensive strategic partners," adding that, "in recent years under the direction of President Xi Jinping... cooperation in various fields has been deepening."