Invited by the President Lukashenko of Belarus, President Xi Jinping is paying a visit to Belarus from May 10 to May 12. This will be the first time in 14 years that the president of China has visited Belarus. Since China and Belarus established a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2013, cooperation between the two countries has been becoming more frequent and comprehensive in all fields.

In culture, learning Chinese is becoming more popular under the elevation of the bilateral relations between China and Belarus. The first Confucius Institute of Belarus State University was set up in 2007. Liu Suling, Chinese Dean of the Confucius Institute told People's Daily that the government of Belarus puts a high value on the development of the institute: it was entitled "Republic Confucius Institute" - giving it national status - when it was registered, and the former Deputy Prime Minister A. Tozik of Belarus has been an honorary member of the council from the outset.

Teachers of the Confucius Institute have been working very hard on cultural exchanges between the two countries. In 2014, 7 articles by contemporary Chinese writers were published in the national literary journal of Belarus, and this year, 3 more books about China will be published. Now there are 3 Confucius Institutes and multiple Confucius Classrooms in Belarus, and many schools want to open classes in Chinese.

As well as educational institutes, Chinese enterprises are also highly regarded in Belarus. In January of this year, the construction of the 400 million dollar freeway that connects the capital city Minsk and the second largest city Gomel was completed. China Road and Bridge Corporation was in charge of the project, which was completed ahead of schedule and with the highest quality standards. Except some 40 Chinese employees at management level, all the other employees in the project are local. Many local employees of the project interviewed by People's Daily showed their satisfaction with the job and working environment.

On May 1, 2015, an Air China plane arrived at Minsk International Airport. Two firetrucks waiting on the ground spouted streams of water as a welcome to the first direct flight on the Beijing-Minsk-Budapest line.

The opening of the new direct air route fits with China' economic development, the construction of "One Belt and One Road," and the building of "Air Silk Road". This line will be devoted to exchanges and cooperation with central and Eastern Europe in trade and culture, and the development of the tourism industry in Belarus. 

This article was edited and translated from 《中白关系进入加速发展阶段》, source: People's Daily