Venezuelan president thanks China for support during pandemic

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza (5th R, front) and Chinese Ambassador to Venezuela Li Baorong (6th R, front), pose with Chinese medical experts at the Simon Bolivar International Airport, in La Guaira, Venezuela, March 30, 2020. /Xinhua

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has tweeted his thanks to China for the country's support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A team of Chinese medical and scientific experts who arrived in Venezuela on Monday to help fight COVID-19, were met by Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza and Chinese Ambassador to Venezuela Li Baorong.

Arreaza also thanked the Chinese government and people for sending "this huge plane full of solidarity."

Screenshot from Twitter

Li, the Chinese ambassador, said the mission was sent by the Chinese government "with affection and brotherhood" to show "solidarity and support for the Venezuelan government and people in the battle against the coronavirus."

He noted that "when the Chinese people were going through a difficult time in their battle against COVID-19," Venezuela "provided solidarity and strong support to the government and the people of China. We will always have them in our hearts, we will never forget."

As of Sunday night, Venezuela had reported 129 confirmed COVID-19 cases and three deaths from the disease.

(With input from Xinhua)

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