China called for protection of its legitimate rights and interests in Venezuela after US-backed North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP) was announced as the new operator of several oil fields previously run by Chinese and Russian companies. The White House said Venezuela’s interim authorities granted NABEP 100-year concessions for 17 fields containing around 65 billion barrels of proven reserves. Washington will hold a 35% stake in NABEP’s parent company and receive preferential access to 20% of its oil production at cost, CNBC reported. Reuters said five of the 14 newly awarded projects had previously been operated by Chinese companies, including fields involving Sinopec, China National Petroleum Corp. and China Concord Resources. Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said China’s cooperation with Caracas is protected by international law and the laws of both countries, and that relations between states should follow the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. The White House described the agreement as part of President Donald Trump’s effort to reduce Chinese and Russian influence in Venezuela’s energy sector and strengthen US control over energy supplies in the Western Hemisphere.