Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 24 October (BelTA) – China’s leadership is implementing a consistent policy towards Belarus, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to China Kirill Rudy said in an interview with TASS, BelTA has learned.

The diplomat noted that political cooperation between the two countries has been growing. Reciprocal visits are an important indicator, he said.

“Annual meetings of the presidents are ‘the icebreakers’ that lead the way. Intergovernmental committees, commissions convene for regular meetings. This year we hosted Vice President of the People's Republic of China Wang Qishan and Secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Zhao Leji. These are high-level visits emphasizing that China’s upper echelons of power have been consistent in their policy to Belarus,” the ambassador said.

Kirill Rudy noted that Alexander Lukashenko and Xi Jinping developed very friendly personal relationship even before Xi Jinping became president of the PRC. In 2010, he visited Minsk in the status of the China vice president and had long formal and informal talks. The idea to set up the China-Belarus Industrial Park Great Stone emerged back then, by the way. Therefore, the political atmosphere, of course, plays an important role in the Belarusian-Chinese relations,” the ambassador said.

“We even draw parallels between Pakistan and Belarus. The former has been China’s long-standing partner in Asia, while Belarus has managed to become such a friend and partner for China over just 26 years of diplomatic relations. This political atmosphere has trickled down to the grass-roots level. Everybody knows that our countries and the heads of state are close friends,” the diplomat added.