China says it will continue cooperation with Venezuela

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China has reaffirmed its ties with Venezuela, reiterating its intention to continue the pragmatic cooperation with the country based on mutual benefit, common development and commercial rules.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks at a regular press briefing on Thursday in Beijing.

She was responding to news about U.S. Special Envoy for Venezuela Elliott Abrams suggesting on Wednesday that China may stop providing loans to Venezuela out of concern over the Latin American country's repayment ability.

At the press briefing, Hua also reacted to a question about U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton mentioning ways to counter China's "predatory actions" in the West during a phone call with El Salvador's President-elect Nayib Bukele.

Hua said the relationship between China and El Salvador conforms to the international law and the basic principles guiding international relations.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) and his Salvadoran counterpart Carlos Castaneda shake hands after signing a document to build diplomatic ties between the two nations in Beijing, China, August 21, 2018. /VCG Photo

It is in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries and their people, Hua stressed, adding that their bilateral ties will not stand in the way of each other developing relations with other countries.

"China is willing to see the U.S. and El Salvador develop ties with each other on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference of internal affairs," Hua noted.

"Accordingly, the development of ties between the U.S. and El Salvador should not be at the expense of normal friendship that other countries seek to develop with El Salvador."

The Chinese spokesperson also pointed out that China is not interested in engaging in geopolitical competition in Latin America.

She emphasized that China-Latin America collaboration has brought the latter a large number of job opportunities and solidly boosted local development and improved people's livelihood.

Calling the U.S. accusations "groundless" and "unreasonable," Hua said "We hope that certain people should view cooperation between China and Latin America as well as that between China and El Salvador with openness, tolerance and calmness."

(Top image: File photo of Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying. /Photo via the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry)