Venezuela has told China that its oil prices will be set by global markets, not by U.S. pressure, as Caracas seeks to reassure Beijing amid uncertainty following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces.

Axar.az reports, citing CNBC, that speaking in Beijing, Venezuelan ambassador Remigio Ceballos rejected reports that Washington could influence the price China pays for Venezuelan crude, stressing that Venezuela would make independent pricing decisions.

The remarks came after reports that U.S. President Donald Trump had considered exerting control over Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA, including pushing prices down to $50 per barrel.

Ceballos also sought to calm concerns over the future of Chinese investment, saying projects across sectors, including energy, would continue unaffected and that China and Venezuela remain “trusted partners.”