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Reuters
Venezuelan traditional dancers welcomed the hospital ship when he arrived on Saturday
A Chinese hospital ship has docked in Venezuela where, next week, it will provide free health care to local patients.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López went to the port of La Guaira to greet the Chinese crew.
He said that the visit of the Ark of Peace had been approved by President Nicolás Maduro during a visit to Beijing last week.
Venezuela agreed at the time to increase its oil exports to China, which is one of its major creditors.
The economic crisis in Venezuela has resulted in severe shortages of food and medicine and the collapse of public services.
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Reuters
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez (right) praised China's gesture
The opposition claims that the presence of a Chinese hospital ship in Venezuela shows the extent of the humanitarian crisis.
"Real diplomacy"
Padrino López thanked China for the gesture of friendship and said that both countries would benefit.
"It's a pleasure to have this ship in Venezuela, which has arrived here after traveling to more than 40 countries," he said.
"This is how true diplomacy is achieved: with concrete cooperation actions," added Padrino López.
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AFP
Shortage of drugs and poor working conditions led to health worker demonstrations
The Venezuelan government attributes the international boycott led by the United States to the economic crisis in Venezuela.
On Friday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo promised to unveil "in the coming days" a series of actions against "Venezuelan leaders".
President Donald Trump has already labeled President Maduro a dictator and accused his government of illegally detaining, defeating and killing opposition activists.
In the past year, hundreds of thousands of people fled the country as the crisis deepened.
According to United Nations figures, 2.3 million people left Venezuela between 2014 and June 2018.
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Reuters
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mr. Maduro met in Beijing earlier this month
Mr. Maduro went to China last week, looking for support to help rebuild the economy.
He said he signed 28 trade and investment agreements with China.
Venezuela said it would increase oil exports to 1 million barrels a day.
The two countries also agreed to invest $ 5 billion (£ 3.8 billion) to help rebuild Venezuela's troubled oil industry.
But there was no public statement from Beijing saying that he had agreed to provide new funds to Maduro's government.
