Venezuela's Vice President Aristobulo Isturiz on Monday night called for efforts to strengthen South-South cooperation.

He was addressing a meeting attended by representatives of the African National Congress (ANC), the South African Communist Party (SACP), the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the Congress of South African Students.

Isturiz is visiting South Africa to cement bilateral relations as part of a campaign to seek support from BRICS countries.

Isturiz stated that he is looking forward to build more friendship with BRICS countries whom he said are an alternative to the U.S. and Europe whom he said are imperialists.

South-South cooperation in the diplomatic, political and economical fields is important to address the challenges, he said.

"We have to strengthen the South South cooperation and defeat the attack from the West and Europe. Venezuela has been financial sabotaged with the dollar and the euro being manipulated," the deputy president said.

He accused the United States of masterminding the drop in oil price in a bid to sabotage his country economically.

He also accused the West of imposing its culture on Africa and parts of the world.

He called on the countries of the South to resist that.

Isturiz called on countries of the South to develop their own capabilities like processing of petroleum and resources and avoid exploitation by the West.

"We have to strengthen our alliance and take control of our resources. We have to advance the South South agenda," he said.

SACP second deputy general secretary, Solly Mapaila said they will always show solidarity with Venezuela, Cuba, Palestine, Western Sahara and other countries of the South. He accused the U.S. of using the imperialist tactics to rule the world.

He said, "We want to show our unwavering support for the Bolivian Republic of Venezuela, Palestine, Western Sahara and other countries of the South. We know our friends who have been there for us and we will not forget them. We will fight until we defeat the imperialist like we defeated Apartheid."

Earlier on Monday, Isturiz met with South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to discuss issues of mutual concern.

South Africa and Venezuela established diplomatic relations in 1993. The Memorandum of Understanding regarding bilateral consultations and a Framework Agreement on Cooperation was signed in 2008 during a visit by Chavez. Enditem

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