Opinions & Interviews

China named Belarus’ reliable political, economic partner

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MINSK, 20 June (BelTA) – China is a reliable political and economic partner of Belarus, BelTA learned from Dean of the International Relations Department of the Belarusian State University, Professor Viktor Shadursky during the session of the discussion club held in the House of Friendship on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the People’s Republic of China.

The discussion focused on a new age in Chinese diplomacy: Xi Jinping’s foreign policy strategy and opportunities for its implementation. Viktor Shadursky acted as the moderator of the meeting. He mentioned astounding political, economic, scientific, and educational accomplishments of China over the course of 70 years. He said he was confident that China will continue demonstrating the same high level of development dynamics across the board in the future. The professor mentioned the Belt and Road initiative as one of the fundamental peaceful ideas of the modern age.

In turn, Viktor Rybak, Head of the Central Office for Asia, Africa, and Latin America of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pointed out that China’s role is becoming more and more noticeable and active in the age of radical changes in the international scene. “No doubt, the person of China President Xi Jinping is of key importance for implementing China’s current foreign policy. He has initiated a number of projects that have had considerable influence on the development of international relations. I should also mention the initiative to revive the Great Silk Road, which the entire world has come to know as the Belt and Road initiative. This project opens up great opportunities for the development of all countries. The Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing in April 2019 was a vivid testimony to that. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko took part in the forum,” Viktor Rybak said.

He remarked that Belarus takes an active part in a number of international organizations together with China such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, and the 17+1 format. As a member of the Union State of Belarus and Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union Belarus takes part in efforts to couple the Eurasian Economic Union and the Belt and Road initiative.

Personal relations between heads of state are of strong importance. The Belarusian and Chinese leaders have met 11 times. The intensity of meetings of Aleksandr Lukashenko and Xi Jinping indicates that Belarus-China relations have reached the highest possible level in the sphere of political interaction.

Deputy Chairwoman of the Belarus-China Friendship Society Alina Grishkevich made a speech during the session of the discussion club. She spoke at length about the role of grassroots diplomacy in building up trust and understanding between the two nations, in the advancement of cooperation as a whole. She also mentioned a series of forthcoming Belarusian-Chinese events timed to the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the People’s Republic of China. Chairman of the Grodno City Council of Deputies Boris Fedorov informed those present about the development of Belarusian-Chinese interregional ties.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Belarus Cui Qiming, Chairwoman of the Belarusian Society for Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries Nina Ivanova, and activists of the Belarus-China Friendship Society also took part in the event.

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