Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday met with visiting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Moros in Beijing, with both sides pledging to advance bilateral friendship and cooperation.

Noting the decision of the two heads of state to elevate the China-Venezuela relationship to an all-weather strategic partnership is an important milestone in the history of bilateral relations, Li in the meeting expressed his confidence about the prospect of bilateral cooperation.

Under the strategic leadership of the heads of state of the two countries and the joint efforts of the two sides, the friendship and trust between China and Venezuela will be further strengthened, and cooperation in various fields will be taken to a new level, Li said.

In the face of an international landscape with changes and turbulence intertwined, China and Venezuela should work together to deepen strategic coordination, appropriately respond to risks and challenges, and better achieve win-win development, the Chinese premier stressed.

Li pointed out that China will continue to firmly support the Venezuelan side to safeguard national sovereignty and national dignity, safeguard its legitimate rights and interests, and will resolutely oppose foreign forces' interference in Venezuela's internal affairs under any pretext.

China is willing to work with the Venezuelan side to implement the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, strengthen exchanges of development experience, make good use of the Mixed Venezuela-China High-Level Committee mechanism and deepen practical cooperation in various fields, he added.

As next year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Venezuela, Li called on the two sides to organize a series of activities to celebrate their 50th anniversary, continue to expand cultural exchanges, and better promote mutual understanding between the two peoples.

He also voiced China's willingness to coordinate closely with Venezuela in multilateral frameworks and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

For his part, Maduro said China is committed to peaceful development, follows a development path suited to its national conditions, and has made remarkable achievements.

China's growth benefits not only its own people, but also the whole world, he noted.

The Venezuelan president vowed to strengthen cooperation with China in the economy, trade, science and technology, agriculture, education, and culture to usher in a bright future for bilateral relations.