Aleksandr Lukashenko meets with Vice Сhairman of NPC Standing Committee Lu Yongxiang

Belarus and China have reached an unprecedented level of mutual trust and support, President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Lu Yongxiang on 21 May.

According to the head of state, over 20 years since Belarus and China established diplomatic relations, the bilateral cooperation has reached a brand new level. In 2011, the trade exceeded $3 billion.

“We are proud that the Great China has been our strategic partner and staunch ally for many years,” Aleksandr Lukashenko underlined. He added that he is happy to welcome China’s parliamentary delegation in Belarus.

The President emphasized that in recent years Belarus and China have developed strong ties on all levels. Close inter-parliamentary links are an essential part of the bilateral cooperation. “It is encouraging that each new meeting makes our cooperation more intensive and efficient,” the head of state said.

In his words, Belarus values the arrangements reached during the visits of Vice-President of China Xi Jinping and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Wu Bangguo.

“It would not be exaggeration to say that we have reached an unprecedented level of mutual trust and support,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. He noted that China’s President Hu Jintao made a personal contribution to that.

Belarus is very grateful to China for assistance at the international level in all areas. “We appreciate that at any moment China is ready to give us its support,” the President of Belarus said.

He stressed that for its part Belarus has consistently supported China in particularly sensitive areas. “Our countries share common strategic objectives, have a similar vision of the major global problems and ways to solve them. We very much appreciate strong ties with your country, which plays a critical role in ensuring stability and security in the world. And we are happy to see the international prestige and influence of China growing” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The head of state noted that Belarus and China have launched multimillion-dollar investment projects. “We signed major contracts in power engineering, construction, transport, communications, and manufacturing industry. We are interested in further boosting of the political, trade and investment cooperation, as well as effective cooperation in scientific, military, technical and humanitarian fields,” the President of Belarus said.

According to the head of state, in the future the two countries need to focus on high-tech, science-intensive projects that would contribute to the modernization of the economies and creation of high-tech industries. In this regard, the President of Belarus particularly welcomed the signing of an agreement to set up the Belarusian-Chinese commission for high-tech cooperation. “Priority cooperation areas should be communications, space technologies, biopharmacy, new materials, energy, machinery and instrument engineering. The abovementioned areas are the investment in the future and the guarantee of independence and prosperity of our states,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Lu Yongxiang, in turn, thanked the President of Belarus for all-round assessment of the Belarusian-Chinese cooperation and his close attention to the commission for high-tech cooperation.

He pointed out a big role of the governments of Belarus and China in the development and enhancement of bilateral relations. "Over 20 years of diplomatic relations our bilateral relations have always been stable and sustainable, we maintain close contacts on high and top levels, political trust is strengthening. Bilateral mechanisms of cooperation in trade, economic, scientific, technical, military industries are successful. We analyze humanitarian exchange and inter-regional cooperation," Lu Yongxiang noted.

"The situation in the world undergo serious changes. Therefore, Belarus-China friendship and cooperation are cruicial today," the Chinese official stressed.

He analyzed the development of Belarus-China relations and outlined a number of priorities for further development of cooperation. In particular, he suggested deepening political trust, expanding mutual support and strengthening a political foundation of bilateral relations.

It is also important to enhance business cooperation, contribute to joint development, consolidate the material basis of bilateral relations. "I think, we should use all our achievements in science and technology, production and resources management. We should use a huge potential and the role of the vast market of China and the integrated market of Belarus," the head of the Chinese delegation said.

Among the priorities are the promotion of cooperation on international and regional issues, multilateral cooperation, development of humanitarian cooperation.

"I absolutely agree with you. The situation in the world is complicated and sometimes obscure. However, we should enhance our cooperation and friendship," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

"We have no political disagreements. In this field we will act, consult with you and adhere to common positions," the President said.

The Belarusian head of state thanked the Chinese delegation for active economic cooperation. "Your assistance, especially credit support, of many areas of Belarus' development is unprecedented. We will do everything possible to support investors from China, businessmen who will work in Belarus," The President said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko also expressed confidence the visit of the delegation of China will promote bilateral cooperation.