Belarus will always be a reliable partner for China

The President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing

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The Belarusian leader arrived in the Chinese capital from the UAE, where he was visiting the World Summit on Climate Change. 
“I am glad to have this opportunity and discuss topical issues of co-operation with you in a friendly atmosphere and express our points of view on various problems of international relations, as it has always been the case between us. The development of comprehensive and all-weather strategic co-operation between Belarus and China is determined by the similarity of our ideologies and the very logic of international events and processes that are taking place today,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “Our meeting on March 1st [2023] was in many ways pivotal and set the momentum for the whole year. Since March, more than 120 mutual visits have been carried out. Those are various visits. What is most pleasing is that the visits are related to co-operation in the manufacturing sector, trade and economy.”
The Head of the Belarusian State stressed that the historic rise in relations had given a powerful impetus to the deepening of co-operation in traditional areas and launched new vectors and mechanisms of co-operation.
“Belarus has been a reliable partner for China and will remain so. I don’t think anyone in China needs to be convinced of this. All this has happened before my eyes for the last 30 years, and even way back. I came to China for the first time as a member of parliament,” the Belarusian leader said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko also noted his long-term acquaintance with Xi Jinping and joint work to advance bilateral relations.

“We have a lot of experience. We know what our countries need. We have done a lot in this regard. Furthermore, we decided a long time ago that we would co-operate and live in friendship with China. As I said, this friendship is more than 30 years old. We have never turned from this path either to the left or to the right,” the President of Belarus stated.

Aleksandr Lukashenko thanked Xi Jinping for the meeting, noting that the Chinese leader has recently had a very busy schedule: a huge number of international meetings, not to mention domestic policy events in China itself.
The President of Belarus drew attention to the fact that speed is very important in the implementation of co-operation plans, “Time is very compressed today. It is so compressed that sometimes we fall behind. It’s not just China, Belarus... This is happening around in the world. The one who is the first to reach their goal will be at the top.”
The Belarusian leader expressed support for the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, put forward earlier by the Chinese leader.
“I came to the conclusion a long time ago that the Belt and Road Initiative is no longer a concept today. It is already a practice. In progress. No one can argue with this today, and no one can find even a trifle to criticise. The most important thing is that you have defined the common destiny for humankind as the goal. Unlike Western countries that are trying to tear everything apart, you have set the single goal for all. Who can argue with that? No one. The world will be grateful to Great China for this. 

We would like to see China a powerful country. We would like to see it grow. This is not only our interest. It is the interest of the whole planet, because a huge number of talented hardworking people live here [in China],” the Head of the Belarusian State said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, in turn, said that the Chinese side is ready, together with Belarusian partners, to strengthen strategic co-operation in the name of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
“My great friend, I am very glad to see you again. As part of your state visit to China in late February and early March of this year, we reached important agreements in favour of the dynamic development of Chinese-Belarusian relations. At every stage, we reach new agreements. Over the course of the year, political mutual trust and international co-operation are strengthened. There are new results of co-operation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative,” the Chinese leader said.
The President of the People’s Republic of China stated that 10 years ago the Belt and Road Initiative was a concept. Now more than 140 countries and international organisations have joined co-operation within its framework.
Xi Jinping stressed that under the strong leadership of its President, Belarus has managed to overcome the impact of various negative factors, to maintain social harmony and stability, to ensure economic recovery and growth, which has laid a solid foundation for further development.

“For China, maintaining stability and long-term development is very important. We have made great strides in this work. In today’s world, titanic changes are taking place, new risks and challenges are emerging. Much of what is happening is unexpected for us. The Chinese side is ready, together with Belarusian partners, to strengthen strategic co-operation in the name of creating a community with a shared future for mankind,” the Chinese leader said.

At the end of the negotiations, the two leaders exchanged gifts and continued their conversation over a working lunch.
Aleksandr Lukashenko gifted Xi Jinping several pieces of artwork symbolising Belarus and Belarus-China friendship. Among the gifts was an artistic panel My Belarus depicting beautiful Belarusian nature and cosy houses nestling between oak forests and lakes. The bottom of the panel shows ears of corn, flax flowers and cornflowers symbolising the beauty and rich heritage of the Belarusian nation.
The sculptural composition Belarus-China Friendship. The Belt and Road Initiative is also symbolic. It reflects links between the history and modernity showing a transition from camel caravans to high-speed trains. The symbolic globe is held by the Hands of Friendship.
In addition to the artwork, the Head of State presented his Chinese counterpart with an exclusive chocolate set and a basket of Belarusian products. 
One of Xi Jinping’s gifts to Aleksandr Lukashenko was a silk painting depicting Chinese mountain landscapes.
In total, Aleksandr Lukashenko and Xi Jinping talked for more than three hours. After negotiations between the leaders of the two countries, a meeting was held at the level of Deputy Prime Ministers. Aleksandr Lukashenko suggested such a meeting during the negotiations with Xi Jinping. The hosting country willingly accepted the proposal. The agreements of the leaders are discussed and implemented.
Taking part in the meeting were Belarus’ First Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Snopkov and China’s Deputy Prime Minister Liu Guozhong. 

After negotiations between the leaders of the two countries, a meeting was held at the level of Deputy Prime Ministers  Photo courtesy of the Telegram channel Pul Pervogo

Aleksandr Lukashenko visited Peking University on the same day. The university hosted a meeting with the Secretary of the Party Committee of Peking University, Chairman of the Pedagogical Council, Deputy Chairman of the International Affairs Commission of the National People’s Congress Hao Ping.
“The President of China and I are long-standing friends. We have the same views on the situation in the world and global prospects. After our meeting, negotiations have continued at the level of Deputy Prime Ministers. All our great ambitions and agreements should be put to practice, they should be translated into specific projects. On the instructions of Xi Jinping and on my instructions, the vice premiers are doing exactly this,” the Belarusian leader said.
The President also stated the need to strengthen communication between the peoples of the two countries. According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, student exchange issues were also discussed at the meeting with Xi Jinping. 
“We need to scale up student exchange programmes. We need to expand co-operation beyond biotechnologies into chemistry, physics, mathematics... China is interested in this kind of co-operation,” the President noted.
Hao Ping recalled that he was part of the Chinese delegation during the state visit of the Chinese President to Belarus in 2015. He was deputy education minister back then. He cherishes the memories of the hospitality and the warm welcome that he saw in Minsk.
While visiting the university, the Head of State also took part in a training session and a friendly match with the university’s hockey team.
“Many of our hockey players have not slept through the night. Our university has hosted more than 70 Heads of State and government at different times. This is however probably the first time a foreign Head of State will play a hockey match with our students,” Hao Ping emphasised at a meeting with Aleksandr Lukashenko.

Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by