China and Belarus renew strategic ties as Xi Jinping and ‘old friend’ Lukashenko meet in Beijing

“China is willing to continue strengthening strategic coordination with Belarus, support each other resolutely, promote pragmatic cooperation, and continue deepening our bilateral relations,” state news agency Xinhua quoted Xi as saying.

Xi said that since their last meeting in March “political trust between the two countries was further consolidated while coordination at the international level was further strengthened”.

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Belarusian President Lukashenko meets with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, amid Ukraine crisis

Lukashenko arrived in China’s capital on Sunday for a two-day visit, aiming to discuss “trade, economic, investment and international cooperation” with its major partner in Asia.

The trip comes amid Western criticism about Belarus’ involvement in Russia’s war with Ukraine and Western scepticism about China’s role in the conflict.

According to the state-owned Belarusian Telegraph Agency, Lukashenko told Xi Belarus was “a reliable partner” and would “remain so”.

Lukashenko also lauded Xi’s “concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind”.

“Unlike Western countries that are trying to tear everything apart, you have set the single goal for all,” he said.

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When they met in March, the two leaders pledged to improve their “all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership”.

At the time, Xi highlighted the strengthening of “political mutual trust” between the two countries while Lukashenko voiced support for China’s global security initiatives and peace plan for Ukraine.

They also committed to improve cooperation in areas ranging from defence and security, technology, joint investment, to manufacturing.

Over the past decade, trade volume between China and Belarus has risen steadily, with China replacing the European Union to become Belarus’ second-biggest trading partner after Russia.

The EU has imposed various sanctions on Belarus in the past year in response to its involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Minsk has maintained friendly relations with Beijing since Belarus gained independence in 1991 and was one of the earliest supporters of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, under which the two countries collaborated on the Great Stone China-Belarus Industrial Park.

In August, with increasing diplomatic exchanges, Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin said diplomatic relations with China had reached an “unprecedentedly high level of cooperation”.

South China Morning Post