President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus visited China to renew ties. (Photo : Getty Images)
President Xi Jinping and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed 26 agreements for the two countries to formalize partnerships on investment, trade, education and science. The Belarusian president was in Beijing on Thursday.
The two countries also agreed to form strategic partnerships to enhance mutual trust. President Xi Jinping was also given the medal of "Peace and Friendship" from Belarus.
"We have exchanged views many times on the bilateral relationship and issues of joint concern," Xi said. He also called Belarus "an old Chinese friend."
China considers Belarus an old partner in many areas. President Xi said that both countries have stood side by side on many global issues.
Lukashenko also said that his country will play an active road in Chia's Silk Road Economic Belt Initiative, where a trade and transport connection between Europe and China will be built.
"The China-Belarus Great Stone Industrial Park, which the two countries are building together, is an important part of the Silk Road Economic Belt," he said.
According to Charge d'Affaires of China to Belarus Luo Zhanhui, "In Beijing Alexander Lukashenko and Chinese President Xi Jinping have completed a long-term planning of strengthening the Chinese-Belarusian relations. The two heads of state decided to establish the trustworthy comprehensive strategic partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation."
"Over the past 67 years and especially the last 38 years of the policy of reforms and openness, China has achieved colossal success and made a huge historic leap in the development of the state and enhancement of the living standards and also made an important contribution to the world's development," the diplomat said.
He added: "2016 is an important year for our country. It is the start of the country's 13th five-year period. Amid weak recovery of global economy the Chinese economy has managed to withstand the pressure and posted a 6.7 percent growth in the first half of the year."
