Venezuela hoped to strengthen its friendly relations with China and promote bilateral cooperation in political and economic fields, said visiting Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jesus Armaldo Perez.

Perez said at a press conference in Beijing Monday China is one of the most important partners of Venezuela in the world. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. "Venezuela hopes to establish much closer relations with China and increase bilateral cooperation in areas of common interest," Perez said.

In recent five years, he said, the two nations signed 55 agreements on bilateral cooperation in order to enhance exchanges in energy, petroleum, hi-tech, telecommunications and infrastructure.

He expressed the hope that Venezuela will be a tourism destination for Chinese civilians at an early date.

Perez said Venezuelan president Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias is planned to visit China next year.

Perez is paying an official visit to China and attending the second Meeting of the Political Consultation and Cooperation Mechanism of the Sino-Andean Community, at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Li Zhaoxing.

(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2004)