Gift for the whole country

The President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, attended the opening ceremony of a new world-class swimming pool in Minsk in the run-up to the national holiday of November 7th

BELTA

Sovereign Belarus continues the tradition of giving important social and economic objects as a present timed to coincide with November 7th. Various regions and cities of the country have received wonderful gifts. On the eve of the festive date, the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, took part in the solemn opening ceremony of an international standard swimming pool in Minsk. A real palace of water sports! It is stunningly beautiful externally and truly functional inside. This complex was built as part of the gratuitous technical and economic aid project from the Government of China. Notably, the National Football Stadium is being built in the Belarusian capital according to the same project. The emergence of such large-scale international-class sports facilities in Minsk is the result of a personal agreement between the Belarusian leader and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The construction of the swimming pool began in August 2020, and on November 6th, the new sports complex opened its doors to the first guests. This is another vivid example of the social orientation of the Belarusian state and its commitment to the principles of social justice, which is especially relevant at a time of geopolitical turbulence on the planet. 
Upon the President's arrival, Alina Zmushka, finalist of the Summer Olympic Games 2024 in Paris, and Vasilina Khandoshka, bronze medallist of the World Championship, presented a bouquet of flowers to the Head of State.
After the opening ceremony, Aleksandr Lukashenko familiarised himself with the swimming pool and its operation. Attending the opening ceremony were representatives of the sports community, the Chinese Embassy and the general contractor Beijing Construction Engineering Group.
The swimming pool is one of the projects within the framework of humanitarian co-operation between Belarus and China. The construction started in August 2020. China designed and built the swimming pool on a turnkey basis in accordance with the technical requirements and standards of the People’s Republic of China and with the technical requirements and criteria of the World Aquatics. According to the World Aquatics requirements, the facility’s category is AC-5 (World and European Aquatics Championships).
The facility is expected to be used as a modern centre to train national teams of Belarus, hold national competitions in aquatic sports, provide services to the general public, and host competitions of high international level. It provides favourable conditions for training activities, nutrition, rest and recovery of athletes, scientific and methodological support. 
Belarus' new world-class swimming pool of AC-5 category covers over 40,000 sq.m., built within humanitarian co-operation
between Belarus and China   

Special thanks to Xi Jinping for new swimming pool

Aleksandr Lukashenko warmly thanked the Chinese builders for their work. “You are great!” the Belarusian leader stressed.
The Head of State noted that the construction of the facility was not a simple process, given that the pandemic burst out in 2020. However, despite various restrictions, the work continued. “It was progressing slowly, but it never stopped. Last year, I asked China to finish the construction by this holiday [November 7th] and made a number of decisions for this to be done. China promised, and China has fulfilled its promise. This is an example of the discipline. This is an example for us to do what is promised, and we will then exist as a nation like China. Neither Trump, nor Harris, nor Biden will turn the Chinese people off the path then. We need to learn from them in this regard,” the President said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko expressed sincere gratitude to the Chinese people and stated, “You should know that we are reliable friends for you. We have been shoulder to shoulder for more than 30 years, and China has never reproached Belarus for moving away from the course we agreed to follow together.”
Commenting on how the decision to build a swimming pool was made, the Head of State said that, while visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, he was shown models of a national football stadium and an international standard swimming pool. “The discipline in China is ironclad. I know that if Xi Jinping orders something, then no one will argue but start working. Actually, this [project] has required much money. This is free technical assistance. They are ready to finance several more serious social facilities in our country. Therefore, we are indebted to this man and to the great Chinese people. We are very much grateful to them!”

Architectural grandeur of Belarus' new world-class swimming pool captures the imagination    Aleksandr Kulevsky

Social issues

During the grand opening ceremony, Aleksandr Lukashenko called Donald Trump the victorious President of the United States.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that the new socially significant facility was built with the help of our friends from China, adding that our peoples are brought closer by their attitude to our history. “The peoples of Belarus and China share a respectful attitude towards the history of the socialist movement. Today, more and more people are talking about socialism, though they used to wipe their feet on it. In the mid-1990s, I remember, all these definitions were simply trampled on. However, even today it is an obscene word in the US, even from the mouth of the victorious Trump, the president who accused Kamala Harris of being a socialist and a communist. Trump is an ardent capitalist, a billionaire,” the President noted.
The Head of State stressed that Belarus, like China, had not gone down the path of redrawing history, “And what do we see? Europe is all oriented towards socialism, without calling it so. But it talks about social justice. We immediately said that we are building a socially oriented state. This is the basic principle of socialism. And our Chinese friends have never abandoned it. They talk about socialism and it did not stop them from following the main tracks of the capitalist movement, e.g., competition. It is very developed in China. Therefore, no one bothers anyone. It is necessary to proceed from realities.” 

Fundamenal requirement for athletes

President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko demanded results from Belarusian athletes and urged them not to blame everything on sanctions.
Referring to the current situation in global sports, the Head of State stressed that this sphere has some problems, “However, I am sure that as soon as the politicians — who are too much carried away — move away from sports… Such a time will come, although no one prevents you from playing sports and winning even now. As I say, you can defeat Russians: they are open to us. Win over them, and I will not demand anything from you. Be winners in ‘bad’ Russian football, in hockey, in athletics, in any mass sports that are favourite among people. Win, and it will be a worthy result for us.”
As noted by the Belarusian leader, a victory over Russian athletes in these sports will ensure the third place in the world, and maybe the second after the United States. “There is no need to say that we have been expelled from somewhere, and it’s a trouble now. Biathletes (though not all of them) perform well, they defeat Russians, and we are grateful to them for that. What about the others, who is hindering them?” Aleksandr Lukashenko asked a reasonable question.
At the same time, the Head of State noted that Belarusian athletes showed up well at the World Cup in short course swimming competitions. “It’s a hope. Of course, it does not directly mean that we will win at most distances in swimming. It is very difficult, since it’s not only about physical training and so on. As you can see, not only politics, but also medicines play their role in sports today. I mean doping, for example, and other aspects. We can be ‘banned’, while others will be in the lead. Anything can happen, but it is possible to win. No one demands great victories from our athletes,” the President stressed.

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Aleksandr Lukashenko congratulated Trump on his return to the post of President of the United States

President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko has congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US Presidential election, sb.by reports with reference to the Belarusian leader’s press service. “I cordially congratulate you on your return to the post of President of the United States of America. The results of the voting, which took place in an unprecedented struggle this year, have become the embodiment of your personal feat. You committed it primarily in the name of America and its citizens. I wish you good health and well-aimed political decisions that will make America great again,” the congratulatory message reads.

Participation in the World Climate Action Summit President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko made a working visit to Azerbaijan on November 11th-12th, where he took part in the World Climate Action Summit

The global forum brought together tens of thousands of delegates, including many heads of state and government and was held under the auspices of the United Nations.
In his speech, Aleksandr Lukashenko outlined Belarus’ national position on the climate change agenda and the measures that the international community should take to address the challenges arising in this area.
The President also held a number of meetings and negotiations with his foreign counterparts on the sidelines of the summit.
For reference: The UN Climate Change Conference, or Climate Summit, has been held annually since 1995 and brings together countries that are parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The previous global forum was held in late 2023 in Dubai (UAE) with the participation of representative delegations from more than 150 countries.

Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by