President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko paid a state visit to China from February 28 to March 2 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. The two leaders last met in September at the summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperaration Organization (SCO), held in the Uzbek city of Samarkand. At that meeting, they jointly announced the upgrading of their bilateral relationship to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership.
Meeting again on March 1, Xi Jinping emphasized that the China-Belarus friendship is unbreakable, and the two sides should constantly enhance political mutual trust and remain each other’s true friends and good partners.
Congratulating China once again on the success of the 20th CPC National Congress, Lukashenko expressed great admiration for President Xi, noting that he is a leader much loved by the Chinese people and enjoying high prestige in the world. He said that he firmly believes that under the strong leadership of President Xi, China will continue to make new and glorious achievements, and that the hearts of the Belarusian people are always with the Chinese people, and Belarus will stand firmly with China at all times. He said that China is a mainstay in safeguarding world peace, and that Belarus is ready to strengthen coordination with China on major international and regional issues, and jointly strive for the maintenance of international and regional security and stability.
The two presidents also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis and other issues. Xi Jinping pointed out that China’s position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear, and China has released a position paper on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. Xi noted that the core of China’s position on this issue is promoting talks for peace. All parties should stay committed to its political settlement, abandon the Cold War mentality, respect the legitimate security concerns of all countries, and work to forge a balanced, effective, and sustainable European security architecture. Relevant countries should stop politicizing and instrumentalizing the world economy and take effective actions to bring about a ceasefire and an end to the conflict and peacefully resolve the crisis. Lukashenko said that Belarus fully agrees with and supports China’s position on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, and this is of great significance to its resolution.
Lukashenko’s programme also included meetings with Premier Li Keqiang and Chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee Li Zhanshu.
The two heads of state signed a detailed joint statement covering a broad range of political, economic and other issues and featuring not least a strong commitment to further develop the China-Belarus Industrial Park, situated outside the Belarussian capital Minsk, which is both a mainstay of bilateral cooperation as well as a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). According to the statement, China supports Belarus in becoming a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as soon as possible. It presently has observer status.
The below article on the meeting between the two presidents was originally published on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. We also publish the full text of the Joint Statement, which is a machine translation from the Chinese language text carried in People’s Daily, and which has been lightly edited by us.
Xi Jinping Holds Talks with President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, 1 March 2023
On March 1, 2023, at the Great Hall of the People, President Xi Jinping held talks with President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko who is on a state visit to China.
Xi Jinping pointed out that in Samarkand last September, he and President Lukashenko jointly announced the upgrading of China-Belarus relations to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership, thus injecting strong impetus into cooperation between the two countries in various fields. Xi noted that this year is the first year to fully implement the important decisions made at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and China’s high-quality development and modernization drive will bring new opportunities to Belarus and other countries in the world. Faced with an international situation fraught with instability and uncertainty, China is ready to work with Belarus to promote the sound and steady development of bilateral relations at a high level.
Xi Jinping emphasized that the China-Belarus friendship is unbreakable, and the two sides should constantly enhance political mutual trust and remain each other’s true friends and good partners. China highly appreciates Belarus’ firm support for China’s legitimate positions on issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and human rights, among others. It is important that the two sides firmly support each other’s choice of development path, support each other’s effort in safeguarding their respective core interests, oppose external interference in internal affairs, and safeguard the sovereignty and political security of the two countries. Both sides should fully leverage the role of the China-Belarus Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee, expand economic and trade cooperation, build the China-Belarus Industrial Park well, and advance cooperation on the China-Europe Railway Express and other connectivity building projects under the framework of Belt and Road cooperation. Both sides should also deepen cooperation in medical care and health, expand cooperation at the sub-national level, and keep close cultural and people-to-people exchanges, so that the China-Belarus friendship will enjoy greater public support.
Xi Jinping noted that the world is faced with profound changes unseen in a century, and much remains to be done to safeguard world peace and development. China and Belarus are both defenders of international fairness and justice. China appreciates Belarus’ support for the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and is ready to work with Belarus to strengthen coordination and cooperation at multilateral fora including the United Nations, so as to jointly respond to global challenges and build a human community with a shared future.
Congratulating China once again on the success of the 20th CPC National Congress, Lukashenko expressed great admiration for President Xi, noting that he is a leader much loved by the Chinese people and enjoying high prestige in the world. He said that he firmly believes that under the strong leadership of President Xi, China will continue to make new and glorious achievements, and that the hearts of the Belarusian people are always with the Chinese people, and Belarus will stand firmly with China at all times. He noted that Belarus firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests, and firmly supports and actively participates in the Belt and Road Initiative, the GSI and the GDI proposed by President Xi Jinping. Belarus is ready to strengthen cooperation with China in such fields as science and technology, industry, agriculture and tourism, and advance the development of the China-Europe Railway Express and the building of the Belarus-China Industrial Park. Belarus welcomes Chinese businesses to the country for investment, and is ready to step up sub-national and cultural and people-to-people exchanges with China. He said that China is a mainstay in safeguarding world peace, and that Belarus is ready to strengthen coordination with China on major international and regional issues, and jointly strive for the maintenance of international and regional security and stability. He also wished the upcoming “two sessions” of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference a great success, and expressed the belief that this annual event will have a significant impact on the future of China and the world.
The two presidents also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis and other issues. Xi Jinping pointed out that China’s position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear, and China has released a position paper on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. Xi noted that the core of China’s position on this issue is promoting talks for peace. All parties should stay committed to its political settlement, abandon the Cold War mentality, respect the legitimate security concerns of all countries, and work to forge a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture. Relevant countries should stop politicizing and instrumentalizing the world economy, and take effective actions to bring about a ceasefire and an end to the conflict and peacefully resolve the crisis. Lukashenko said that Belarus fully agrees with and supports China’s position on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, and this is of great significance to resolving the crisis.
Following the talks, the two presidents signed the Joint Statement on Further Developing the All-weather Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Belarus in the New Era, and witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in such fields as economy and trade, industry, agriculture, customs, science and technology, health, tourism, sports as well as cooperation at the sub-national level.
Prior to the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for Lukashenko at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
When Lukashenko arrived, a 21-gun salute was fired at Tiananmen Square, and the guard of honor lined up in salutation. The two presidents stepped onto a stand and a military band played the national anthems of China and Belarus. Lukashenko reviewed the guard of honor of the People’s Liberation Army and watched the march-past in the company of Xi Jinping.
After the talks, Xi Jinping hosted a welcoming banquet for Lukashenko at the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
Wang Yi and He Lifeng, among others, were present at the events.
Joint statement of the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Belarus on the further development of the all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries in the new era
People’s Daily, 2 March 2023
At the invitation of President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China, the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko paid a state visit to the People’s Republic of China from February 28 to March 2, 2023. The two heads of state held talks in a warm and friendly atmosphere, exchanged in-depth views on Sino-Belarusian cooperation in various fields and international and regional issues of common concern, and reached broad consensus.
The two sides spoke highly of the fruitful results of cooperation and development in various fields since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 31 years ago and agreed that the establishment of the China-Belarus all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership jointly announced by the two heads of state in Samarkand on September 9, 2022 is of landmark significance. The relations between the two countries have achieved a historic leap forward and become a model for a new type of international relations. Based on the high level of cooperation between the two countries and in order to better benefit the two countries and peoples, the two sides agreed to further develop the all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries in the new era, and declare the following:
Belarus warmly congratulates the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on its complete success and President Xi Jinping’s election as General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, speaks highly of the great achievements made by China’s economic and social development in the past 10 years in the new era, and wishes the Chinese people to build a modern and powerful socialist country in an all-round way under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, achieve the second centenary goal, and comprehensively promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese-style modernization.
China highly values the major achievements made by the Republic of Belarus in national development and construction since independence, respects the Belarusian people’s choice of a development path suited to its national conditions, and reiterates its support for the policies and measures adopted by the Belarusian leadership and its Government aimed at maintaining national stability and development.
The two sides stressed that firm mutual support on issues involving each other’s core interests is the cornerstone of the stable development of China-Belarus relations. Belarus abides by the one-China principle, recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate Government representing the whole of China, reaffirms that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, opposes any form of “Taiwan independence”, supports all efforts made by the Chinese Government to realize national reunification, and supports China’s position of safeguarding national security and territorial integrity and safeguarding citizens’ rights. China supports Belarus’s efforts to maintain political stability and economic development and opposes interference by external forces in Belarus’s internal affairs under any pretext.
The two sides agreed that it is necessary to proceed from the actual conditions of their own countries, explore a path of development of democracy and human rights that meets the needs of the people, and resolutely oppose double standards on the issue of democracy and human rights and the use of democracy and human rights to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.
The two sides expressed grave concern over practices that restrict the sovereign right of other countries to independently choose the direction of political, economic and social development in accordance with the universally recognized principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
The two sides stressed the importance of working together to resist illegal unilateral restrictions and pressure on sovereign and independent states.
The two sides agreed to further give play to the coordinating role of the China-Belarus Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee, promote the comprehensive development of China-Belarus cooperation in various fields, and plan to hold the fifth meeting of the Committee within this year.
The two sides welcomed the expansion of direct contacts between the government departments of the two countries and the advancement of resolving pressing issues of bilateral cooperation.
The two sides are committed to deepening comprehensive cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, continuing to promote trade facilitation between the two countries, unleashing the potential of cross-border transport such as the China-Europe Express and steadily increasing the scale of bilateral trade. The two sides agreed to continuously expand mutual investment and promote cooperation between the business sector and financial institutions.
The two sides will carry out pragmatic cooperation in the financial field on the basis of marketization, autonomy and rule of law, expand the use of local currencies in bilateral trade, investment and financing, support active cooperation among financial institutions, further improve the level of financial services, and promote bilateral economic and trade development.
The two sides identified expanding mutual direct investment, carrying out cooperation in high-tech industries, promoting business cooperation between enterprises, and encouraging entrepreneurship as priority directions for cooperation.
The two sides concluded negotiations on the main provisions of the draft text of the Agreement between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Belarus on Trade in Services and Investment and initiated market access negotiations.
The two sides will carry out industrial cooperation between the two countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, based on market principles, promote the upgrading and transformation of traditional industries in Belarus, strengthen cooperation between enterprises of the two sides in parts and raw materials, give full play to China’s advanced technology advantages, and carry out joint production.
The two sides will work to promote the active expansion of trade exchanges between departments and enterprises of the two countries.
The two sides stressed the importance of the production and supply of agricultural products and will continue to support the mutual export of high-quality agricultural products from China and Belarus to each other’s countries.
The two sides will jointly promote the high-quality development of the China-Belarus Industrial Park and build it into an international cooperation project and a satellite city in Minsk. China encourages its large-scale production enterprises and high-tech enterprises to settle in industrial parks.
The two sides stressed the importance of carrying out TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) cooperation projects in the China-Belarus Industrial Park, including attracting new enterprises in the field of TCM to participate in the cooperation.
The two sides stressed the necessity of further developing human resources in the China-Belarus Industrial Park, encouraged willing and capable universities of the two countries to carry out industry-university-research exchanges and cooperation with the park in an independent and orderly manner, and providing high-quality talents in the field of new technologies for enterprises in the park.
The two sides are willing to further implement the memorandum of understanding on bilateral e-commerce cooperation signed by the relevant departments of the two countries, actively carry out cooperation in the field of digital economy, encourage the development of e-commerce, and jointly promote the implementation of the global data security initiative proposed by China.
The two sides agreed to strengthen mutual communication and cooperation, accelerate the implementation of projects under construction such as national football stadiums and international standard swimming pools, and explore the implementation of more development cooperation projects.
The two sides support the continuation of the China-Belarus Year of Local Cooperation in 2023 and welcome the deepening of economic and trade cooperation between Tianjin, Chongqing and Qingdao in Shandong Province and other relevant places in China.
The two sides welcomed the opening of the Consulate General of Belarus in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, which includes the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region.
The Parties will take measures to strengthen transport and logistics links and facilitate the transportation of goods.
The two sides encourage airlines of the two countries to increase direct flights from Belarus to China in due course in accordance with market principles.
The two sides will further strengthen scientific and technological cooperation, encourage the joint establishment of joint scientific research centers, laboratories and other platforms, increase investment in scientific and technological cooperation projects, and promote joint research and development of new technologies in artificial intelligence, 5G and other fields.
The first initiative to promote innovation cooperation is joint R&D and innovation. The two sides support the establishment of joint centers and enterprises to facilitate the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements of the two countries.
The sides reaffirmed the importance of the implementation of joint scientific and technological programs and projects within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and in regional organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
The two sides are willing to expand academic and research cooperation at the bilateral level and within regional multilateral mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia.
The two sides will strengthen cooperation in the fields of defense, justice, law enforcement and security, deepen cooperation including military personnel training, joint efforts to combat transnational crimes, and combat terrorism, and jointly prevent “color revolutions.”
The two sides will carry out exchanges and cooperation in the fields of disaster prevention and mitigation, production safety and emergency rescue, carry out exchange and training, information sharing, rescue drills and other activities, and deepen practical cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road International Cooperation Mechanism for Natural Disaster Prevention and Emergency Management.
The two sides are willing to strengthen practical cooperation in the fields of green, low-carbon and sustainable development, and jointly promote the formation of a new pattern of harmonious coexistence between man and nature.
The two sides are willing to strengthen cooperation in the construction of greenhouse gas statistical accounting and monitoring system, establish a greenhouse gas emission trading market, promote climate change adaptation, and green climate investment and financing.
The two sides are willing to further strengthen people-to-people exchanges and expand cooperation in the fields of culture, tourism, sports, film and television, and media.
The two sides will continue to support young people of the two countries in learning each other’s national languages, expand cooperation in language teaching, and further develop the Belarusian Research Center established in China and the Confucius Institute in Belarus. The two sides will work together to establish a regional Chinese language research center in Belarus.
Belarus shares the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom for all mankind put forward by China. The two sides will jointly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, uphold the spirit of [the] San Francisco [Treaty], continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation within the framework of the United Nations, and exchange views and coordinate positions on major international and regional issues in a timely manner; and resolutely oppose all forms of hegemonism and power politics, including the imposition of illegal unilateral sanctions and restrictive measures against other countries, work together to build a new type of international relations, deepen and expand the global partnership of equality, openness and cooperation, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind.
The two sides strongly condemn any attempt to replace existing international rules, order and mechanisms and undermine the basic content of the Charter of the United Nation and reaffirm that they will promote the international community to consolidate the principle of the rule of law in international relations on the basis of universally recognized principles and norms of international law and support each other to reduce the negative impact of illegal unilateral restrictive measures.
The two sides expressed deep concern over the prolongation of the regional armed conflict and looked forward to restoring peace in Ukraine as soon as possible to avoid the escalation of the crisis. The two sides are willing to make efforts to restore regional peace.
Belarus agrees with China’s new development concept of innovation, coordination, green, openness and sharing, and supports China’s Global Development Initiative. China appreciates Belarus’s participation in the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative. The two sides recognized that development is an important driving force for ensuring prosperity for all countries and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in priority areas within the framework of the Global Development Initiative to achieve the [UN] Sustainable Development Goals.
Belarus supports China’s Global Security Initiative. The two sides are committed to close coordination in regional and global security affairs and agreed to strengthen cooperation on global security initiatives to jointly address global challenges such as terrorism, climate change, cyber security, and biosecurity.
The two sides will continue to carry out comprehensive cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia. China supports Belarus in becoming a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as soon as possible.
Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus, thanked President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China for his warm and friendly reception to the Belarusian delegation and invited President Xi Jinping to visit Belarus at a mutually convenient time.
President of the People’s Republic of China
Xi Jinping
President of the Republic of Belarus
Alexander Lukashenko
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