Venezuela's Maduro arrives in Beijing ahead of Xi meeting

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrived in Beijing on Tuesday ahead of a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Maduro, who touched down in the southern city of Shenzhen on Friday, is expected to stay in China until Thursday for his first state visit to the country since 2018.

The 60-year-old leader is seeking to secure membership for Venezuela in BRICS. Maduro last visited Beijing in 2018 -- his 10th trip to China -- where he praised Xi's vision of a "common destiny for humanity". Xi also visited Venezuela in 2014.