China and Venezuela share many similar views on the basic rules governing international relations, according to Chinese President Jiang Zemin and the top legislator of Venezuela Willian Lara.

Venezuela supports the democratization of international relations and advocates multipolarization in the world through the joint efforts of the international community, said Lara, chairman of the National Congress, the legislature of Venezuela.

Multipolarization means having all countries concerned handling global affairs, rather than one or two countries alone.

Lara told Jiang yesterday that Venezuela opposes the imposition of a single mode or the will of one country on the entire world.

Venezuela positively participates in globalization, which should be the process in which peoples of all countries support each other and co-operate, and in which the sovereignty and independence of all countries should be respected, said Lara.

He said that the National Congress firmly supports the Venezuelan Government's policy of developing friendly co-operation with China and hopes the two countries will co-operate "positively and effectively'' in various fields, such as agriculture and energy.

Jiang praised Venezuela for adopting an independent foreign affairs policy and safeguarding national independence and state sovereignty.

He said that Venezuela has "positively taken part in international and regional affairs, pushed the integration of Latin America and made its contribution to world peace and development.''

In the 21st century, the world will inevitably move towards multipolarization and this is the common will of most countries, according to Jiang.

All countries -- big or small, strong or weak -- are equal members of the international community, he added.

Globalization is the inevitable trend of social development and all countries should benefit from globalization and achieve joint prosperity, said Jiang.

He said that Venezuela, under the leadership of President Hugo Chavez, has made progress in pushing political, economic and social reform, encouraging people to participate in the management of state affairs, developing the economy and finding ways to act that accord with its national circumstances.

The friendly exchanges between the legislatures of China and Venezuela have played an important role in pushing the development of bilateral relations, according to Jiang.

China and Venezuela yesterday signed a total of eight documents to deepen their co-operation in wide-ranging fields.

They include a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a high-level mixed committee, an agreement on avoidance of dual taxation and the prevention of tax evasion, a framework agreement on China providing preferential loans to Venezuela and an implementation plan for the agreement on bilateral cultural co-operation from 2001 to 2003.

The signed accords also include a memorandum of agreement on co-operation in engineering science and technology, an agreement on oil co-operation and an agreement on co-operation in geological and mineral exploration.

Presidents Jiang and Chavez were present at the signing ceremony.

Chavez yesterday conferred an honorary medal on Jiang. On Monday local time, the Mayor of Caracas conferred the title of "honoured guest of the city'' on Jiang and gave him the key to the city.

Venezuela is the last stop on Jiang's six-nation Latin America tour, which also included Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Cuba.

(China Daily 04/18/2001)