China and Venezuela Agree to Upgrade Official Status

What’s new: President Xi Jinping and Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro announced they would elevate the two countries’ diplomatic ties to an “all-weather strategic partnership” during Maduro’s state visit to China that was set to end Thursday.

The upgrade will be a step up from their current status of comprehensive strategic partnership. The two countries want to “expand practical cooperation in various fields and strengthen strategic cooperation in international affairs,” according to a joint statement released by China’s foreign ministry on Thursday.