Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao met Thursday with his Venezuelan counterpart Jorge Arreaza, currently on a visit to Beijing. The two sides agreed to forge closer ties, maintain high-level contacts and expand cooperation in the fields of energy, finance and agriculture, in addition to stepping up exchange of experience in governance and deepening their strategic partnership. In 2001, the two countries established a strategic partnership on social development, Xinhua news agency reported. Arreaza arrived Wednesday in Beijing on a five-day visit at Li’s invitation.