On May 18, 2021, the Foreign Vice-minister for Asia, the Middle East and Oceania, Capaya Rodríguez, held a first extraordinary meeting with the 23 Heads of Missions to these regions in order to establish a space for political management and exchanges of ideas in these geostrategic zones.
This virtual meeting started with a frank, fraternal dialogue by Vice-minister Rodríguez, who expressed the confidence, high esteem and recognition of President Nicolás Maduro and Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza for the hard work carried out by these diplomatic missions and representations despite the challenges posed by the sanctions imposed on the country by the US Government and its allies.
Vice-minister Rodríguez also mentioned the existing challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced humanity to reinvent itself, be resilient, avoid seeing crises as insurmountable problems, foster self-discovery and accept that changes are part of life.
Then, she addressed fundamental political, technical work issues, highlighting the guidelines established by the Bolivarian Government to face unilateral coercive measures within the framework of the Anti-Blockade Law and defeat economic aggressions, financial persecution, embargo and restrictions that violate the fundamental rights of the Venezuelan people.
Noteworthily, they also addressed internal administrative issues and discussed plans for the celebration of the Bicentenary of the Battle of Carabobo and July 5, the latter in coordination with the Office for Communication Management and the Ministry of People’s Power for Culture so that the Diplomatic Missions in those regions can participate jointly.
Then, the Heads of Mission were given the floor to exchange ideas, which were duly noted by Vice-minister Rodríguez, who said they will be incorporated into the agenda to be followed by the staff in Caracas and overseas.
This meeting represented a significant progress of the collective work carried out by Vice-minister Rodríguez’s Office and the Heads of Mission to update information and provide input and evidence, making it possible to move forward with the coordination with these regions’ countries in areas such as energy, non-traditional imports, finance, transport, and tourism, among others.
Vice-minister Rodríguez and the Heads of Missions to Asia, the Middle East and Oceania also discussed a great deal of initiatives in the education, cultural and multilateral areas, as well as export supply and investment that will be assessed in subsequent subregional activities.
Finally, the Venezuelan Foreign Vice-minister for Asia, the Middle East and Oceania closed the meeting by thanking for the effort made to attend this space and highlighting they will keep their spirit of unity and fight up for their Homeland’s wellbeing and in defense of the ideals of Liberator Simón Bolívar, Commander Hugo Chávez and President Nicolás Maduro.