Meng Jianzhu and Alexander Lukashenko during their meeting in Minsk
Welcoming the high-ranking guest, the Head of State noted that Belarus has been attentively following the growth of China’s international authority. The President expressed confidence that, at the G20 Summit (scheduled for September in Chinese Hangzhou), China will propose solutions to global economic and political problems.
Mr. Lukashenko gave his wishes for the success of this important international forum, and noted that he expects a meeting with China’s President, Xi Jinping, and a traditional exchange of opinions during his state visit to China, planned for late September. The visit should take Belarusian-Chinese co-operation to a new, much higher, level.
“In the 25 years since Belarus-China diplomatic relations were established, much has been done to strengthen bilateral ties,” Mr. Lukashenko stressed. “Our dialogue has no closed topics or unsettled issues.”
According to the Belarusian President, contacts are intensifying across most spheres. In addition, the Belarusian-Chinese Business Forum — held last May — created new impetus for the establishment of inter-regional ties.
Mr. Lukashenko stressed that the Chinese are demonstrating practical interest in close co-operation. During negotiations, the parties agreed on the necessity for even greater intensification of contacts, to promote trade-economic co-operation, helping it reach the same, high, level as political interaction.
According to the President, technological and investment ties should drive Belarus-China interaction. “The recent launch of the Belarusian satellite from the Chinese Xichang Satellite Launch Centre and the creation of modern defence systems have helped advance our partnership to a brand-new, more trustworthy level. In addition to investments, this should propel our bilateral co-operation,” he noted.
The President does not doubt that the second session of the Belarusian-Chinese Intergovernmental Co-operation Committee will be productive and will help determine steps taking forward Belarus-China relations. Mr. Lukashenko thanked his high-ranking guest for his work in enhancing Belarusian-Chinese friendship and partnership. “I think that everything is going to be all right,” Mr. Lukashenko said confidently.
Meng Jianzhu noted the multi-sided collaboration enjoyed with Belarus, stating that Belarusian-Chinese relations are developing and strengthening, owing to the two states’ leaders. He appreciates the high level of political trust and mutual support at major international events.
“We strongly support each other in the most acute problems of common interest,” he said, praising the Belarusian President’s role in developing Belarusian-Chinese co-operation. He commented that China views Mr. Lukashenko’s forthcoming official visit as a major event in Belarusian-Chinese relations for 2016.
The recent, authoritative delegation is overseeing issues relating to preparations for Mr. Lukashenko’s visit to China. “We hope for the efficient development of our bilateral ties,” Meng Jianzhu said, adding, “Chinese-Belarusian friendly relations and co-operation are the best they’ve ever been. We believe that interaction between the Belarusian and Chinese nations has very broad prospects. We’re confident of an even brighter future for our co-operation.”
According to the official, the political views of our two countries coincide across most topical issues on the international agenda. “We’ve an unprecedentedly high level of mutual political trust,” stressed Meng Jianzhu, adding that trade-economic co-operation between our two countries grows stronger all the time. He described the China-Belarus Great Stone Industrial Park as an exemplary co-operation project. “In scale and pace of development, it is amazing us all,” he noted.
DIRECT SPEECH
Alexander Lukashenko:
In the 25 years since Belarus-China diplomatic relations were established, much has been done to strengthen bilateral ties. Intensification is observed across all spheres, without exception.
Meng Jianzhu:
Chinese-Belarusian friendly relations and co-operation are the best they’ve ever been. We believe that interaction between the Belarusian and Chinese nations has very broad prospects. We’re confident of an even brighter future for our co-operation.
By Vasily Kharitonov
