Belarus President Lukashenko arrives in Beijing to meet President Xi

Asia-Pacific, Europe, News March 2, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

President of Belarus and Putin’s closest ally, Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Beijing on March 1, 2023, for a three-day visit. Lukashenko met with China’s President Xi Jinping. The two leaders spoke on matters related to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

According to a Chinese news agency, during his meeting with China’s president, Lukashenko welcomed China’s efforts to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Lukashenko said that It is “a testament to its peaceful foreign policy as well as a singular new step that will have a broad impact all over the world.”

The Belarusian president also mentioned the 12-point document unveiled by China’s foreign ministry, which calls for respect for state sovereignty and peace negotiations. “Today, not a single problem in the world can be solved without China,” he added.

President Xi said that China has “clearly, definitively, pointedly declared” its intentions in its peace plan. He also acknowledged Belarus’s efforts to restore peace and stability in the region. President Xi said that “Belarus has been actively putting forward its peace proposals, and comprehensively supports your incentive on international security.”

President Xi stressed that the two sides should further enhance political mutual trust and remain each other’s good friends and partners. He said China highly appreciates Belarus’s firm support for China’s position on issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong.

Beijing has become increasingly vocal in calling for peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. China has also denied it would provide arms to Moscow after U.S. officials said China was considering doing so. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made direct comments about how the U.S. would respond if China supplies any lethal support to Russia. Beijing claims to be a neutral party in the conflict.

*^{Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attends a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, China, on March 1, 2023. (Image Credit: BelTA/Pavel Orlovsky/via Reuters)}*

Belarus shares a border with both Ukraine and Russia. However, the country is very dependent on Moscow and its leadership is in a close circle of Putin’s allies. Belarus allowed Russian troops to pass through its territory to launch their attack on Ukraine last year and it continues to provide ground support to Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

The meeting between the leaders of Belarus and China also produced a series of economic agreements. The two sides signed a range of cooperation documents in economy and trade, industry, agriculture, science and technology, health, tourism, and sport.

The Belarusian economy ministry said one of the agreements was on the planned creation this year of a free trade and investment zone. With a population of just 9.3 million, Belarus has a smaller economy compared with China’s but is a major producer of fertilizer.