CARACAS – Venezuela's top diplomat on Monday thanked the Chinese government and people for sending humanitarian aid to assist those affected by the earthquakes.

The first batch of emergency humanitarian relief supplies provided by the Chinese government to Venezuela arrived on Monday at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, near the Venezuelan capital Caracas.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil and Chinese Ambassador to Venezuela Lan Hu received the supplies at the airport.

The foreign minister thanked the Chinese government and its leaders on behalf of the Venezuelan people for providing the relief supplies. Venezuela had maintained communication with China from the outset of the disaster response, under the coordination of acting President Delcy Rodriguez, he said.

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Latest official figures show the two consecutive earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 have so far killed 3,535 people, injured 16,740 others and caused extensive material damage.

Gil said the shipment was among the most important aid deliveries Venezuela had received, including tents for displaced people, gasoline and diesel generators, solar generators and other materials to help vulnerable communities.

The assistance demonstrated the all-weather strategic partnership between Venezuela and China, according to Gil.

Gil said the Chinese community and Chinese-funded enterprises in Venezuela had actively extended a helping hand after the disaster, joining rescue efforts and helping displaced residents from the very beginning.

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Many of those scenes were deeply moving, he said, adding that the Venezuelan people had seen the support and that the two peoples, living on the same land, had developed a deep friendship.