Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning presided over the regular press conference. A reporter from the UK’s *Financial Times* asked: U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that the United States will acquire 50 million barrels of previously sanctioned oil from Venezuela, which the United States will sell on behalf of Venezuela. Some of this crude oil might originally have been sold directly to China.What is China’s comment on this? Mao Ning stated that Venezuela is a sovereign state that possesses full and permanent sovereignty over its natural resources and economic activities. The U.S. demands in question violate international law, infringe upon Venezuela’s sovereignty, and harm the rights of the Venezuelan people.“Cooperation between China and Venezuela is cooperation between two sovereign states, protected by international law and relevant laws. China’s legitimate rights and interests in Venezuela must be protected,” Mao Ning emphasized. (The Paper)