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Opinion: Planned visit of Xi Jinping to Belarus will give strong impetus to cooperation

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MINSK, 24 September (BelTA) – A planned visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Belarus will give a strong impetus to the development of the bilateral cooperation, Valery Mitskevich, Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives of Belarus’ National Assembly, head of the working group on cooperation with the Chinese parliament, said as he met with Chairman of China’s National People's Congress Foreign Affairs Committee, head of the Chinese-Belarusian friendship group Zhang Yesui via a video conference on 24 September, BelTA has learned.

“We highly value China’s support, including in matters of respect for Belarus’ sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. We express our gratitude to China for its constructive position on the situation in Belarus, which is defended on international platforms, including the UN Security Council. We are optimistic about the development of China-Belarus relations and are certain that we will consistently implement all our plans,” Valery Mitskevich said. “We believe that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Belarus, which is currently in the works, will give another strong impetus to the bilateral relations. We are ready to work together with the Chinese parliament to arrange the visit,” he added.

The parties discussed ways to strengthen relations between the Chinese and Belarusian parliaments and to enhance the trade and economic cooperation, mutual support in international affairs, and joint emergency response.

The importance of China-Belarus cooperation in humanitarian affairs was stressed by Chairwoman of the Standing Commission on Health, Physical Education, Family and Youth Policy of the House of Representatives Lyudmila Makarina-Kibak as she spoke with journalists. “There is a saying: a friend in need is a friend indeed. The first wave of the coronavirus swept the world not so long ago. When we found out that China had a shortage of medicines, we were the first to send aircraft with humanitarian cargo under the president’s instruction. When COVID-19 reached Europe, China supplied us with test kits and other medical and personal protective equipment. I believe that the cooperation within the friendship group is very important,” she stressed.

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