‘Thank God humanity can count on China’: Venezuelan minister heaps praise on Beijing
Foreign minister blames America for country’s crisis during visit to China, but thanks his hosts for their support
Venezuela’s foreign minister blamed the US for his country’s spiralling debt crisis on Thursday, saying Washington’s “permanent attack” had left the economy crippled.
Jorge Arreaza lashed out at Donald Trump, US and European sanctions, and American interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs at the Venezuelan embassy in Beijing during a three-day official visit.
“Our country is under permanent attack and aggression from the United States of America,” Arreaza said at a press conference, where he also heaped copious praise on China, one of the country’s largest creditors.
“Thank God humanity can count on the People’s Republic of China to guarantee peace or at least less conflict,” he said.
Venezuela is mired in a political and financial crisis.
The government of President Nicolas Maduro has ratcheted up political repression this year as food and basic medical supplies run low and protesters intermittently take to the streets.