China, Belarus vow to combine development strategies, boost partnership

MINSK, May 10 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, pledged on Sunday to combine strategies of development and boost the comprehensive strategic partnership between their two countries.

"I hope the two sides will take the opportunity of our meeting to turn the high-level political relationship into more substantial and practical outcomes, and work together to open up a new era for the China-Belarus comprehensive strategic partnership," Xi said as he held talks with the Belarusian president.

Xi arrived in Minsk Sunday morning for a three-day state visit to Belarus, the first by a Chinese head of state in 14 years.

China and Belarus are good friends and good partners that trust and help each other, Xi said, highlighting the smooth development over the past years, especially since the announcement of the partnership in 2013.

During Sunday's talks, Xi proposed the two countries build a community of common interests and common destiny.

China and Belarus should enhance political trust and always support each other's view on development and the path of development, Xi said.

He suggested the two sides should combine their development strategies and work together to build the Silk Road Economic Belt, emphasizing the significance of the China-Belarus Industrial Park.

The Chinese president wanted to make the industrial park a "pearl" on the Belt, or an exemplary project of reciprocal cooperation between the two countries.

He also mentioned the cooperation on trade, housing for low-income families, infrastructure construction, electricity, industrial modernization and financing on a win-win basis.

Xi called for more people-to-people exchanges and closer sub-national government-to-government cooperation.

This year, 100 Belarusian university students will be invited to attend education exchange programs in China, he added.

As this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations, Xi said China and Belarus should strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs to safeguard their common interests and to promote a new type of international relations centered on win-win cooperation.

The Chinese president also pointed out that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the victory of both China's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The former war started earlier and lasted longer than the latter, he said.

The Chinese people and Belarusian people made great sacrifices and immense contributions to the victory against fascism and militarism, he said.

"The purpose of our commemorative activities is to recall history, commemorate martyrs, cherish peace and sound a warning for the future," the Chinese president said.

Lukashenko said that it is of great significance for President Xi to pay a state visit to Belarus on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War.

The Belarusian side values its ties with China, Lukashenko said, noting that his country thanks the Chinese government and people for attaching great importance to the friendly cooperation with Belarus and offer strong support for the country without any political strings attached.

The two countries, he said, have seen a rapid development of exchanges and cooperation in various areas since they established a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2013, including the economy and trade, investment, people-to-people and cultural sectors.

The cooperative ties between the two countries have reached an unprecedented high level, he said.

Lukashenko stressed that Belarus is now speeding up efforts and taking effective measures to implement the development plan for the China-Belarus comprehensive strategic partnership from 2014 to 2018.

Belarus is endeavoring to advance practical exchanges and cooperation with China in industry, transport, real estate, telecommunications and other fields, especially in carrying out cooperation in infrastructure, finance and investment in Belarus, he said.

The Belarusian side is willing to work with the Chinese side to promote bilateral trade and strengthen cooperation in science and technology, tourism, education and other areas, he said.

Lukashenko underscored that Belarus fully supports the China-proposed initiatives of building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and that his country is ready to become an important pillar of the initiatives.

He also voiced support for expanding people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation with China.

Citing Xi's remarks upon arrival at the airport in Minsk that the youths are the future, Lukashenko said he fully agrees with the idea, and that many young Belarusians are studying the Chinese language with enthusiasm, fostering the future of the friendly relations between the two countries.

He noted that both Belarus and China are victorious nations of WWII. Belarus gives a high appraisal to the immense contributions made by the Chinese people to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, Lukashenko said, and it supports China in holding commemorative activities to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory of both China's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The two leaders also exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern.

After the talks, Xi and Lukashenko signed a treaty of friendship and cooperation and a joint statement on further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

They also witnessed the signing of a series of cooperative documents covering politics, culture, economy, technology, education, local government cooperation and other sectors.

In addition, the two leaders met reporters after their talks. Xi described the talks as "fruitful," saying the two leaders defined the key areas and direction for the two countries to deepen cooperation in the next period to come.

Xi said that the two sides agreed to take building the Silk Road Economic Belt as an opportunity to deepen all-round and practical cooperation between the two countries.

Both sides also agreed to, together with all peace-loving people in the world, firmly safeguard the fruits of the victory of WWII, jointly promote a more just and equitable international order and international system, and endeavor to realize the lofty ideal of ever-lasting peace for humankind.

For his part, Lukashenko pledged to strengthen all-dimensional cooperation with China and enhance communication and coordination with China on international and regional affairs.

Belarus supports and will actively participate in the China-proposed initiative of building the Silk Road Economic Belt, he said.

He also told reporters that the two countries will jointly commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory against fascism and militarism.

Before the talks, Lukashenko held a grand welcome ceremony for Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at the Independence Palace. He even personally went to Xi's car to meet the Chinese guests. Accompanied by Lukashenko, Xi reviewed the Belarusian honor guards.

On Sunday evening, Xi planted a spruce tree at the palace in token of the friendship between the peoples of the two countries.