BEIJING: On Monday, December 4, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing for the next time this year. In the midst of harsh Western sanctions, the politely reclusive president discussed his nation’s economic ties to the Eastern superpower.
According to Belarussian state media, the near alliance of Russian President Vladimir Putin was welcomed by Xi at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse for a “working meal” and three days of discussions while he was in the Chinese capital.
Since 1994, Lukashenko has served as president of Belarus. He supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 by allowing Moscow to use its place as the starting point for the conflict, but he now faces a crippled market that is greatly dependent on trade with Russia.
According to Chinese condition news agency Xinhua,” China is willing to continue to develop tactical cooperation with Belarus, promote useful cooperation, and develop diplomatic relations,” according to his guest.
According to Xinhua,” The two edges should carry out projects like the China-Belas Industrial Park and advertise more accomplishments in China- Belarus professional cooperation.”
According to UN Comtrade information, Belarus was the seventh-largest buying companion in the world in 2021 and prior to the conflict in Ukraine. Belarus ‘ second-largest trade companion was China, but the Eastern European nation purchased about three-quarters less from China than it did from Russia.
According to Belarussian state media, Lukashenko emphasized the potential for expanding his nation’s trade ties with China and praised the “more than 120” two-way trips made by Foreign and Belarusian parties since the rulers next met in March.
The report added that” the only issue” Lukashenko wished to discuss with Xi during this visit to the Chinese capital was “accelerating the pace of cooperation between China and Belarus.”
According to Xinhua, both nations should encourage economic and trade initiatives like the China-Belarus Industrial Park and people-to-people exchanges, as well as cross-border transportation cooperation, according to Lukashenko.
Due to its support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and longer-standing concerns about social persecution, Belarus is subject to sanctions from the United States, European Union, Britain, Canada, the Netherlands, and a number of other nations.
According to Belarussian state media, Lukashenko told Xi that the earth would be grateful to China for its efforts to integrate nations into his flagship Belt and Road Initiative, “unlike European countries that are trying to reduce whatever into pieces.”
According to the Xinhua report, xii offered to improve coordination and cooperation between China and Belarus in international organizations like the UN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
It cited Xi as saying that” China and Belarus are significant forces in the transformation and design of the global leadership system.”