On March 6, 2013, Chinese President Hu Jintao sent a message of condolences to acting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro over the death of President Hugo Chavez. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Hu expressed profound condolences over the death of President Chavez and offered sincere sympathies to Maduro, the Venezuelan government and people and Chavez's relatives.

Chavez was an outstanding leader of Venezuela and a distinguished statesman in Latin America, who had devoted all his life to national development and social justice and progress, and earned respect and support from the Venezuelan people, Hu said in his message. The demise of President Chavez was a huge loss for the Venezuelan people. The Chinese people lost such a great friend, who had promoted the China-Venezuela strategic partnership for common development and contributed to enhancing bilateral cooperation in a variety of areas and cementing friendship between the two peoples, Hu said. The Chinese government and people cherish the traditional friendship between the two countries. China was willing to work with Venezuela to deepen their bilateral strategic partnership for common development and bring benefits to the two countries and peoples, he said.