Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with his Belarusian counterpart Lukashenko in Beijing for the second time since the beginning of the year.
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko visited China for the second time this year. A close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin is in Beijing on a working visit and was welcomed by Xi Jinping at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse for lunch. Overall, the negotiations between Lukashenko and the Chinese leader lasted three hours. What they agreed on was more than just a story.
China for co-production
Lukashenko is known as a diplomatically isolated leader in the world because of his open support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Moreover, he allowed Putin to use his territory to start a war. Despite this, today, December 4, the Chinese leader received Lukashenko with honor.
“China is ready to continue strengthening strategic cooperation with Belarus, promoting practical cooperation and deepening bilateral relations,” Xi told his guest.
“Both sides should implement projects such as China-Belarus Industrial Park and promote greater achievements in China-Belarus industrial cooperation,” Xi added.
China was Belarus’ seventh largest trading partner and second largest import partner in 2021, according to UN Comtrade, with the country buying about three-quarters less from Beijing than from Russia.
Lukashenko strives for “speed”
Belarusian state media confirmed that Lukashenko tried to “expand commercial relations” with China.
“Accelerating the speed of cooperation between China and Belarus is the ‘only issue’ that Lukashenko wants to discuss with Xi during his visit to the Chinese capital,” the report added.
Lukashenko also said that since the leaders’ last meeting in March, there have been “more than 120” visits by Chinese and Belarusian representatives.
“These are different visits. And what pleases me the most are the visits related to production, trade and economic relations,” he said.
Lukashenko also noted that at a government meeting on the eve of his trip to Beijing, they saw no problem on the part of Belarus in developing bilateral relations, adding that the only issue he wanted to discuss with Xi was speed.
“Time is very tight. And this compression does not depend on us. It is so compressed that sometimes we are late and do not have time. It is not only China, Belarus… It is happening everywhere in the world . The one who first reaches his goal is at the top “, – he said.
“New management system”
At the same time, according to the Belarusian side, Xi said that the two countries should improve the simplification of cross-border communications and promote economic and trade initiatives, as well as “people-to-people exchanges.”
Lukashenko told Xi that the world will thank China for its efforts to attract countries to its flagship initiative One Belt, One Road“unlike Western countries trying to cut everything off.”
In addition, the Chinese leader proposed strengthening coordination and cooperation between Beijing and Minsk in multilateral mechanisms such as U.N And Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
“China and Belarus are important forces in the reform and development of the global governance system,” Xi Jinping added.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.