(Bloomberg) -- Juan Guaido, named interim president by Venezuela's National Assembly, is ready to talk to Chinese officials “as soon as possible” to establish a “productive and mutually beneficial relationship,” the Sunday Morning Post cited him as saying in an interview.
China would continue to play a role in Venezuela's economic development, and its deals with the government of President Nicolas Maduro would stay in place as long as they adhered to “due process,” Guaido said in an interview Friday, according to the Morning Post.
China, along with Russia, has refused to join the U.S., European Union and most Latin American nations in recognizing Guaido's interim presidency to succeed Maduro. China has loaned $50 billion to Venezuela over the past decade, which the South American nation has been repaying in oil shipments, the Post said.
Guaido said he sought to improve relations with Beijing to stimulate the Venezuelan economy, which is suffering hyperinflation and has witnessed a collapse of investor confidence, according to the report.
Read more: Venezuelans March in Dueling Protests: Guaido, Maduro Speak
China is a crucial global player, Guaido said in the interview, and its support will be “very important in boosting our country's economy and future development.” Beijing continues to promote trade in Latin America and the Caribbean within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, which gives China a natural space to foster development across the region, the Morning Post cited him as saying.
Guaido said that if he assumes the presidency, his priority would be to increase investments and promote economic development, and he conceded that he would need China's support, according to the report.
To contact the reporter on this story: Stanley James in Hong Kong at sjames8@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Shamim Adam at sadam2@bloomberg.net, Peter Vercoe
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