Venezuela seeks to learn from China's high-speed rail and other infrastructural achievements that link people and connect the world, said Nicolas Maduro Guerra, the president of the China-Venezuela Parliamentary Friendship Group, also son of current Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Commemorating 50 years of friendship between China and Venezuela, Guerra noted that Venezuela aims to learn from China's development model and to build the "Venezuelan dream" like the Chinese have been doing with the "Chinese dream."
"We'll be on the high-speed train for a few days. This visit, within the framework of the 50th anniversary of relations, between Venezuela and China, begins in Beijing. And then we're going to Shandong, Shanghai and Shenzhen. Why did we choose these cities? Because these were the cities visited by President Nicolas Maduro," he said.
China is home to the fastest trains in the world, operating a vast and still-expanding network that surpassed 45,000 kilometers of track by 2023. Guerra highlighted the train system as an achievement worth emulating.
"It's an example of harmonious development, rapid development and sustainable development. It's really a wonderful train. And it's part of what we want to take from China: the development model, the model of building a humane and fair society, of harmonious economic development that allows us to achieve the Venezuelan dream. It's about how we envision Venezuela as an economically advanced society, politically democratic with strong values of truth and honesty and a developed society. This is the dream of Venezuela," he added.
Venezuela inspired by China's high-speed trains in its own pursuit of development
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Paris on Sunday for a state visit to France at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, along with other French high-ranking officials, warmly received Xi at the Paris Orly Airport.
Xi noted in a written speech upon arrival that it is a great pleasure to begin his third state visit to the French Republic and celebrate the 60th anniversary of China-France ties with French people.
Xi said as important representatives of Eastern and Western civilizations, China and France have a long history of mutual appreciation and admiration.
He also noted that 60 years ago, the two countries broke through Cold War blocs and established diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level, and in the 60 years since, bilateral relations have always stayed abreast of China's relations with Western countries.
Xi pointed out that the development of China-France relations has not only brought benefits to the two peoples, but also injected stability and positive energy into the turbulent world.
The Chinese president said he will have in-depth exchange of views with his French counterpart on the development of China-France relations and China-EU relations under new circumstances, as well as current major international and regional issues.
Xi said he looks forward to consolidating the traditional friendship between the two countries, enhancing political mutual trust, building strategic consensus and deepening exchanges and cooperation in various fields with France.
Xi's entourage includes his wife Peng Liyuan, Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and foreign minister.
Xi was also greeted by Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye at the airport.
On its way to the hotel, Xi's motorcade received a warm welcome by the local Chinese community, with people waving Chinese and French flags and holding banners hailing China-France friendship.
Xi arrives in Paris for state visit to France
