Co-operation for the security of peoples

The President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, met with member of the CPC Central Military Commission, State Councillor, Minister of National Defence Colonel General Li Shangfu

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The Head of State warmly welcomed Li Shangfu to Belarus, calling him the world’s most media person. 
“I have a reason to start our conversation with calling you the world’s most media person today. Your work and the efforts of the People’s Republic of China to promote its interests, the main ideas on the world order are heard by the entire world today. China and Belarus share the same main ideas of the current and future prospective world order. We, together, have been demonstrating this for the past three decades,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The President made a special emphasis on the fact that Belarus and China have similar views on many issues, 

“We are absolute supporters of a multipolar world, territorial integrity and unity of the borders and territories formed after World War II. We stay committed to non-interference in the internal affairs of states. In short, the whole palette on which China’s foreign policy is based is similar to ours. You should know that for more than 30 years we have always supported China in all its aspirations, because we consider the domestic and foreign policy of the People’s Republic of China absolutely fair, aimed at peaceful resolution of any disputes and conflicts.”

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During the conversation, the parties also discussed important issues of our time.
“Unfortunately, the world is absolutely unstable today, through no fault of ours. Very powerful turbulent developments are happening in the world. We must be strong. Strength is always respected. In our policy we rely on a strong economy and strong diplomacy. I am very grateful to you for your support in military-technical and military co-operation. In this regard, we rely on our friends, first of all, the Russian Federation and China,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.
The President noted that this visit is the first one for Li Shanfu to Belarus. 

“It is very important for Belarus. All our co-operation, which is very significant (we did not hide it from anyone), is by no means directed against third countries. We don’t need that. We need to protect our states and our peoples,” the President said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that he had good and friendly relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping, “I have deep respect for my friend. We have known each other for a long time. Please convey my warmest and best wishes to him and his family for all that China has done for Belarus recently.”
The Head of State also asked to convey good wishes to Chinese leader’s wife Peng Liyuan.
In turn, Li Shangfu conveyed the best wishes and warm greetings to 
Aleksandr Lukashenko on behalf of the President of the People’s Republic of China. He praised Belarus’ great successes in its development and the role of the Belarusian Head of State in this. 
“You are a far-sighted political and strategic leader. You are greatly loved by the Belarusian people. You lead Belarus and achieve great success in the prosperity and development of your country. Let me express my sincere and deep respect for your high contribution to peace and development in the world,” the Chinese Minister of National Defence said.
The guest recalled the Belarusian leader’s state visit to China earlier this year, during which the Heads of State reached important agreements to further strengthen bilateral military co-operation, including in the military sector.
“The purpose of my visit to Belarus is the implementation of important agreements at the level of Heads of State and further strengthening of bilateral military co-operation,” Li Shangfu said.

Chinese Minister of National Defence Li Shangfu on Belarusian-Chinese relations,
“Our bilateral relations are steadily developing. Last year they received the new status of an all-weather and comprehensive strategic partnership. This suggests that our relations have received a historical leap, and now the Belarusians and we are truly iron brothers... Last year, the growth in trade between our countries amounted to 33 percent. From January to May of this year, the development trend of trade turnover also showed good growth and amounts to $3.7 billion, or 127 percent of the development level. The Chinese side is ready to further expand our traditional friendship, deepen co-operation in all industries and fields.” During the state visit of President Aleksandr Lukashenko to China in the first quarter of 2023, Belarus and China signed almost four dozen agreements and contracts worth $3.5 billion. Aleksandr Lukashenko
and Xi Jinping adopted a joint statement on further developing exemplary relations of all-weather and partnership between Belarus and China in a new era. 
“Bilateral relations have made a historic leap forward and have become an example of a new type of international relations. Taking into account the high level of co-operation between the states, as well as in order to improve the welfare of the two countries and their peoples, the parties agreed to further develop the all-weather and all-round partnership between the two countries in a new era,” the document says.
China supports the efforts of Belarus in maintaining political stability and economic development, and opposes any outside interference in the internal affairs of Belarus under any pretext. The document also speaks of the inadmissibility of the use of double standards in matters of democracy and human rights, as well as interference in the internal affairs of other states under this pretext.
During the talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, the Belarusian leader confirmed support for China’s initiatives in the field of international security and development. The Head of the Belarusian State also proposed to the Chinese side to actively create joint ventures and develop co-operation.
“We are extremely interested in deepening co-operation with China on technological development, including the creation of joint ventures, the modernisation of Belarusian enterprises with the introduction of modern Chinese technologies, the promotion of goods and services to the markets of third countries,” the President of Belarus said.
“A meeting between old friends is always a joy. The new status of bilateral relations should be filled with new content,” Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasised during the talks with Aleksandr Lukashenko.

REFERENCE
The development of military-technical co-operation with China has been carried out since 1995. To date, all the necessary contractual and legal basis for bilateral co-operation has been formed. Interaction between the Belarusian Defence Ministry and the Ministry of National Defence of the People’s Republic of China is carried out in accordance with the Agreement on Military Co-operation dated May 13th, 2010.
From 2013 to 2020, 10 high-level military delegations visited the PRC and 13 such delegations visited the Republic of Belarus.
In 2011, 2015, on the territory of Belarus, and in 2012, 2018 in China, joint anti-terrorist trainings were held by units of the special operations forces of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus and units of the airborne troops of the Chinese Air Force. These events made it possible to exchange experience, coordinate the Belarusian and Chinese units, create a foundation for the further development of Belarusian-Chinese relations in the field of joint training of troops.
In 2012, during the visit of the Belarusian Defence Minister to China, an agreement was reached on the annual holding of joint exercises (trainings).
In the period from August 3rd to August 18th, 2018, a Hunting Falcon — 2018 joint Chinese-Belarusian anti-terrorist training (exercise) was held in China. The next training (exercises) on the territory of Belarus has been postponed to 2024 at the initiative of the Chinese side.

Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by