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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

JCP vice-chair welcomes Venezuelan delegation

Japanese Communist Party Vice-Chair Ogata Yasuo on March 16 met with representatives of the Venezuelan International Solidarity Committee (COSI), Felipe Neri Figueroa and Yohni Ramon Nino Villarroel, who are visiting Japan at the invitation of the Japan-Asia-Africa-Latin America Solidarity Committee (AALA), at the JCP head office in Tokyo.

Welcoming the delegation from a country full of energy for change at a time when relations between the JCP and the Venezuelan government are developing, Ogata explained that the JCP 24th Congress in January paid attention to changes in Latin America as a manifestation of a structural change of the world, pointing out that "these changes are gaining world support because they were brought about by ballot, not by bullet."

Figueroa and Nino said that the Venezuelan revolution is a product of accumulated struggles in Latin America and is progressing under the leadership of President Hugo Chavez who stands behind Simon Bolivar's ideal of liberating Latin America.

They said that the changes are the consequences of the collapse of neoliberalism, and that the Venezuelan government is working hard on education and medical services in order to establish a fair society in which oil resources and other results of development benefit not a handful of elite but all the people. In this process, discussion on a new vision for socialism is developing to overcome the framework of capitalism, they added.

Commenting that changes in Latin America have worldwide significance for struggles against neoliberalism, Ogata expressed his expectation that their visit to Japan will become an opportunity to further promote solidarity between the Japanese and the Venezuelan people.
- Akahata, March 17, 2006