Alexander Lukashenko arrived in China for talks with Xi Jinping, who described relations between the two countries as having reached a «historic high». The visit took place following the Belarusian leader’s meeting with Vladimir Putin.
- Lukashenko arrived in China following his meeting with Putin.
- Xi Jinping spoke of a «historic high» in relations.
- Lukashenko emphasised the importance of cooperation with China.
- This is the Belarusian leader’s 17th visit to the PRC.
- The talks are taking place against a backdrop of tension with Ukraine.
Lukashenko’s visit to China
Alexander Lukashenko, the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, arrived in China, where he held talks with the leader of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping. This visit marked an important milestone in the development of bilateral relations, which, according to Xi Jinping, have reached an «historic high». It is important to note that Lukashenko arrived in Beijing immediately after a meeting with Vladimir Putin, which underlines the strategic importance of this visit.
Lukashenko was greeted at Beijing Airport with a guard of honour and a red carpet. Following his arrival, a working meeting took place, after which a traditional official lunch was scheduled. During the talks, Xi Jinping emphasised that relations between China and Belarus had reached a new level, which drew a positive response from Lukashenko.
“I greatly appreciate this assessment and believe that the current level of cooperation is the result of many years of work by our countries,” said the Belarusian leader.
This visit is taking place against a backdrop of tension between Belarus and Ukraine, which lends further significance to the talks. Lukashenko has previously spoken out against Belarus’s involvement in the war against Ukraine, which may indicate a desire to maintain a balance between its alliance with Russia and the development of relations with China.
Why it matters
China remains one of Belarus’s key economic and political partners. Against the backdrop of international sanctions and Minsk’s close cooperation with Moscow, Beijing’s support is of particular importance to the Belarusian authorities. Lukashenko’s visit to China following talks with Putin may indicate Minsk’s desire to maintain a balance between its strategic alliance with Russia and the development of relations with China.
