Maduro received Chinese representative hours before Trump's claim he's been captured

ISTANBUL

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro received a Chinese government representative at the presidential palace in Caracas on Friday, hours before US President Donald Trump claimed Maduro had been captured following American military strikes.

Maduro met Qiu Xiaoqi, special representative of the Chinese government on Latin American affairs, at the Miraflores Palace.

"I had a pleasant meeting with Qiu Xiaoqi, Special Envoy of President Xi Jinping," Maduro said on Telegram. "We reaffirmed our commitment to the strategic relationship that is progressing and strengthening in various areas for building a multipolar world of development and peace."

The meeting came before Trump claimed Maduro, along with his wife, had been captured after "large scale" strike and flown out of the country.

Venezuela had earlier accused the US of attacking civilian and military locations in Caracas and other cities, and declared a state of emergency.