News & Events in Belarus
Very high level of Belarus-China partnership praised
MINSK, 1 August (BelTA) – Belarus and China have reached a very high level of partnership, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with Xiao Yaqing, Chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission at China’s State Council, on 1 August, BelTA has learned.
“The year 2017 is special for our bilateral ties. Belarus and China celebrate the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations. By this anniversary, we have intensified our contacts, joint events, have reached a very high level of partnership between Minsk and Beijing,” the head of state said.
According to Alexander Lukashenko, for all these 25 years he has been keeping an eye on the development of cooperation between Belarus and China. “I could not even think 25 years ago that we will have such relations with the People’s Republic of China. I am glad that we have built such relations with Great China,” the Belarusian leader said.
“Iron friends and all-weather friendship are significant terms which have been included in the lexicon of our relations,” the head of state said.
Alexander Lukashenko remarked that China is a strategic partner of Belarus. The foundation of cooperation between the two countries is friendship and mutual understanding, support in bilateral and multilateral formats.
The president reminded that at the meeting with China President Xi Jinping the sides have once again reaffirmed the status of Belarus as a crucial partner in the implementation of the Belt and Road initiative. “Today we reach an active stage in the fulfillment of our agreements. An example of this is your visit with the representatives of China’s largest corporations which are the pride and force of the Chinese economic model,” the Belarusian leader said. “You have planned substantive meetings and events. They will focus on the main aspect which is the enhancement of economic ties, determining partners and projects for implementation in your country.”
The head of state expressed willingness to build intensive and advanced political relations between Belarus and China on the foundation of strong trade and economic relations. “If it happens, no one will be able to ruin our friendship,” the Belarusian leader is convinced.
He praised long-standing friendship between the two countries. “It emerged when no one was speaking about China’s using the opportunities of Belarus. We have been developing relations, and are developing them now. But the main thing is that we have never tried and do not try to make friends against anyone, we do not interfere in someone else’s affairs. We are developing our cooperation on the principles of international law. Belarus and China do not have agreements contradicting these principles. Moreover, they do not violate the stability of this region or the Asian region. We are concerned about the wellbeing of our people both in China and in Belarus. This is our goal,” Alexander Lukashenko stressed.
According to the president, during the international conference aimed at developing the Belt and Road initiative he said that China’s work with other states is special because China does not teach anyone, does not lay any preliminary conditions for cooperation. “China embarks on cooperation with open heart and soul if countries that China is willing to work with are interested. We can say that it is a new era of economic and political relations in the world, relations without pressure, preliminary conditions, and only on a mutually-beneficial basis. This is a peculiarity of the policy of the great and wise Chinese people,” the head of state said.
He pointed out the fact that China is consistently implementing all agreements in the development of cooperation with Belarus. “You have promised to open your market for our foodstuffs, and you have opened the market for our meat and dairy products. You have promised assistance in the manufacturing industry, and you fulfill your promises. You have promised to support our defense capacity and security of our state, and you have done it. You should know that we are proud of it and will always remember it,” the president said.
Alexander Lukashenko added that he is ready to discuss any cooperation issues with China and stressed that there are no closed topics in this field.
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