Meeting with President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko and President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping held a meeting in Beijing.

The two leaders arrived at the Zhongnanhai residence. First, a working meeting in the format of tea drinking took place. After that, the heads of state talked one-on-one.

During the meeting Aleksandr Lukashenko said that many countries, including Belarus, are closely watching Beijing.

“You have very correctly identified the main trend of our time - the West's unprecedented pressure on us, primarily on the People's Republic of China. And today the eyes of many countries, including Belarus, are on you - Beijing,” the Belarusian leader emphasized.

According to him, five years ago people would say: “If China holds out, the world will be balanced and will go on.”

“Today they are already saying: 'China has held out, China will not allow the world order to be broken'. Many nations strongly believe in this. I have heard this from the heads of state with whom I have met,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.

The President of Belarus noted that he greatly appreciates the friendly attitude of his Chinese counterpart: “Enough to say that you have invited me to your home [the meeting took place at Xi Jinping's residence]. I am very grateful to you and, naturally, and I invite you to my home.”

“I am still surprised and amazed by the way you treat your guests, although this is my 15th time in China and I have been cooperating with your country for 30 years already. Believe me, this is a widely shared opinion. We discuss it with other Presidents, especially leaders of the post-Soviet republics. We have the same opinion about it. And we don't take it for granted; we appreciate it very much,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.

The leader of the People's Republic of China gave a warm welcome to the President of Belarus. The Chinese leader heilighted their long personal friendship.

“I would like to congratulate you once again on your re-election as President of Belarus. This showed how much the people of Belarus support and trust you. I am confident that under your leadership your country will achieve even greater success,” Xi Jinping said.

“Long-standing friendship between our countries is growing stronger. So is the inviolable political trust between us. Our cooperation is expanding in almost all areas,” the Chinese leader said. “We maintain close contacts and coordinate our actions on the international arena, be it within the SCO or the UN. Neither Belarus nor China will ever bow to any international hegemony or yield to the policy of bullying. Together, we defend international justice and equality,” he added. 

Xi Jinping invited Aleksandr Lukashenko to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit and a parade in Beijing that will take place in late August - early September this year.

“A SCO summit will take place in Tianjin at the end of August. A little later, on 3 September, we will hold a parade to celebrate the victory of the global fight against fascism. I invite you to attend and will be glad to see you there,” the Chinese leader said.

Before leaving Beijing Aleksandr Lukashenko talked to journalists.

“Everything went perfectly well. I have met with my friend and we have talked. We agreed that we should intensify our interaction. It was very fruitful,” the President said.

The head of state was seen off at the airport by Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Bin. “The Chinese comrade speaks Russian well, he knows our language. He said that the visit was a success,” the Belarusian leader remarked.

“A successful, excellent visit,” Liu Bin confirmed.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that the parties do not publicize the meetings “with the people we need, with those who are ready to work with us”.

“As Xi Jinping says, we must do everything quickly, sometimes calmly, and quietly. That is how we work,” the President said.

“It was a family-like meeting. Not an official one, not a working one, but a family-like. The Chinese organized everything at the highest level. Well done. Meetings took place with [representatives of] the economic and financial sectors. Today we havemet with the President [Xi Jinping], Foreign Minister Wang Yi, an old friend of ours,” the President said. “I think the visit was successful. The main thing is that the corridor has been widened for them [officials on both sides] – so go ahead. That is why I told the ambassador: ‘You are fully responsible for relations with China. These are new opportunities for us.”