Venezuelan president to visit China, Vietnam for V-Day celebrations, new agreements

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Friday he will visit China and Vietnam to participate in the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of China's victory against Japanese aggression and to sign new economic deals.

"I leave tomorrow (Saturday) for Vietnam and China to seal agreements for the economic and financial security of Venezuela, and to seek support in these difficult times," Maduro said during a rally to support his recent decision to partially close the border with Colombia.

The South American leader said he will meet with Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang and sign agreements aimed at developing new agricultural and industrial production methods.

He said that during his visit to Hanoi, he will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Elias Jaua, who has in recent years developed a new agricultural production plan.

After his trip to Vietnam, Maduro will head to Beijing to attend the Chinese people's celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Maduro said that he was invited by Chinese President Xi Jinping and will be present at the military parade to be held in Beijing on Sept. 3.

China and Venezuela have stressed that bilateral ties transcend the purely diplomatic level and are supported by a large number of agreements in various areas.

Both countries have signed more than 445 agreements in energy, infrastructure, agriculture, technology and education, among other areas. Endi