"With this second shipment, as well as that which we already received from the Russian Federation, the International Red Cross and the Red Crescent" some 166 tons of medicines and supplies have arrived in the country, Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said.

The People's Republic of China delivered a large amount of humanitarian aid to Venezuela on Monday, completing their second long haul of cargo to the Bolivarian Republic since March.

According to the Venezuelan Health Ministry, a Chinese Boeing 747 carrying 71 tons of medicine and surgical material arrived in Caracas on Monday, May 13. The Venezuelan Government said the delivery included supplies for pregnant women and medicine to treat respiratory conditions.

"With this second shipment, as well as that which we already received from the Russian Federation, the International Red Cross and the Red Crescent" some 166 tons of medicines and supplies have arrived in the country, Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said.

China previously shipped 65 tons of humanitarian aid to Venezuela on March 29; this delivery was mislabeled as 'military' support to the Government of the Bolivarian Republic.

Both Venezuela and China maintain close political and economic ties and have so for several years. China, along with Russia, have defended Venezuela at many U.N. Security Council meetings in which the U.S. and its allies attempt to pass resolutions against the Bolivarian Republic.