CARACAS: Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro has revealed that China has given $5 billion to the cash-strapped country.
In a radio and television address Maduro, “We just received $5 billion more in financing for development.” He did not provide further details on the loan from China, a major political and economic ally of Venezuela.
Plummeting global oil prices have caused huge distress for Venezuela, a member of OPEC that relies heavily on its oil revenue to keep its lumbering command economy afloat.
Inflation in 2014 reached 68.5 percent in the South American country and many basic goods are in short supply.
China is Venezuela’s largest investor and the second-largest purchaser of its oil. It has been a key ally of Venezuela since Maduro’s predecessor Hugo Chavez came to power in 1999.
In January, Maduro visited Beijing and said China had agreed to more than $20 billion in investments in Venezuela. Maduro did not say if the financing announced Sunday was part of that amount.
