China's Xi hosts welcome ceremony for Venezuelan president Maduro

President Xi Jinping announced Wednesday an "upgrading of China-Venezuela relations" in a meeting with his counterpart Nicolas Maduro, state media reported. The Venezuelan leader, who touched down in the southern tech hub Shenzhen on Friday, is expected to stay in China until Thursday for his first state visit to the country since 2018.

Xi announced Wednesday the "upgrading of China-Venezuela relations to an all-weather strategic partnership", according to CCTV.The 60-year-old Maduro is seeking to secure membership for Venezuela in BRICS, a bloc of emerging economies. China will, as always, firmly support the efforts of Venezuela to safeguard national sovereignty, national dignity and social stability, and firmly support Venezuela's just cause of opposing foreign interference," Xi told Maduro, while also saying he would work to deepen cooperation between the two countries. The pair will also hold a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, CCTV added.