Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Saturday, September 22, 2018

BREAKING: Venezuela crisis: Chinese hospital ship docks for a week


September 23, 2018  03H:29  GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME
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Members of the Chinese People Liberation Army Navy stand at the hospital ship Peace Ark at the port in La Guaira, Venezuela 22 September 2018Image copyrightREUTERS
Image captionTraditional Venezuelan dancers welcomed the hospital ship when it arrived on Saturday
by Renee Celeste and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, La Guaira, Venezuela
A Chinese hospital ship has docked in Venezuela, where for the next week it will provide free health care to local patients.
Venezuela's Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López, went to the port of La Guaira to welcome the Chinese crew.
He said that the Peace Ark's visit was agreed by President Nicolás Maduro during a visit to Beijing last week.
Venezuela agreed at the time to increase its exports of oil to China, which is one of its main creditors.
Venezuela's economic crisis has led to severe shortages of food and medicines and the collapse of public services.
Venezuela's Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez (R) attends the arrival ceremony of the China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship Peace Ark at the port in La Guaira, Venezuela September 22, 2018.Image copyrightREUTERS
Image captionVenezuela's Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez (right) has praised China's gesture
The opposition says the presence of a Chinese hospital ship in Venezuela shows the extent of the humanitarian crisis.

'True diplomacy'

Mr Padrino López thanked China for the gesture of friendship and said that both countries would benefit.
"It is a pleasure to have this ship in Venezuela, which has arrived here after travelling to more than 40 countries" he said.
"This is how true diplomacy is done: with concrete cooperation actions," added Mr Padrino López.
A woman pushing a wheelchair with a child at a health workers protest outside the "Dr J M de los Rios" Children's Hospital in Caracas 16 August 2018.Image copyrightAFP
Image captionThe shortage of medicines and poor working conditions have led to health workers protests
The Venezuelan government blames an international boycott led by the United States for Venezuela's economic crisis.
On Friday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo promised to unveil "in the coming days" a series of actions against "Venezuelan leadership folks".
President Donald Trump has previously called President Maduro a dictator and accused his government of illegally detaining, beating up and killing opposition activists.
Hundreds of thousands of people have fled the country over the past year, as the crisis worsened.
According to United Nations figures, 2.3 million people left Venezuela between 2014 and June 2018.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro shake hands during his welcoming ceremony in Beijing, 14 September 2018.Image copyrightREUTERS
Image captionChina's President Xi Jinping and Mr Maduro met in Beijing earlier this month
Mr Maduro travelled to China last week, looking for support to help rebuild the economy.
He said he had signed 28 trade and investment deals with China.
Venezuela said it would increase oil exports to 1 million barrels a day.
The two countries also agreed to invest $5bn (£3.8bn) to help rebuild Venezuela's ailing oil industry.
But there was no public statement from Beijing saying it had agreed to provide new funds to Mr Maduro's government.

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