Addressing a regular press conference on Friday, China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang termed Venezuela's success in securing a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) as "reasonable, lawful, and mainstream will of the international community."

Venezuela is among the 14 UNHRC members which were elected by the UN General Assembly on Thursday from five regional blocs.

Moreover, Geng rebutted U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who criticized China and Russia for voting for Venezuela, as "interfering in other countries' internal affairs under the guise of human rights." 

Urging the U.S. to stop politicizing human rights, Geng said that such moves would only further damage the image and reputation of the U.S., and would be opposed by the international community.

The U.S. withdrew from the Geneva-based council in 2018, half-way through a three-year term. 

The UNHRC, created by the UN General Assembly in 2006, is responsible for advocating and protecting human rights.