Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Tuesday that he hoped China and Venezuela could further boost economic and trade cooperation to benefit their two peoples.

He made the remarks at the closing ceremony of a meeting of the China-Venezuela mixed committee, a group aimed at consolidating and strengthening trade cooperation between the two countries.

Chavez said Venezuela and China have witnessed constant progress in their ties since the two countries established diplomatic relations 30 years ago, and especially after they forged a strategic partnership seven years ago.

He said China's rapid development in the political, economic, social and cultural arenas has set a model from which the whole world can learn.

Bilateral trade benefited both countries, said Chavez, adding that cooperation potential is great, as the two nations' economies are complementary in nature.

He said China has strong farm machinery and food processing industries and it is also leading in agricultural technologies, while Venezuela has to import 80 percent of its food to cover domestic consumption.

China's assistance in the field of agriculture will be appreciated, he said.

Venezuela has rich reserves of oil and natural gas, said Chavez. He expressed a hope that Venezuela and China could cooperate to tap the energy resources.

During the meeting, Zhang Xiaoqiang, deputy head of China's Development and Reform Commission, said that China has attached great importance to the Venezuelan people's welfare as the two countries carry out a mutually beneficial cooperation.

A great number of projects constructed by China have been put into use in Venezuela, which have improved the lives of local people, he said.

Other projects, including a water pipeline, railways, as well as sisal planting and chicken farms, are also under construction, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 14, 2005)