China’s Defense Minister Li Shangfu paid a visit to Minsk after his participation in the International Security Conference in Moscow. Here he met with Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin and with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. In his visit with Lukashenko, he “expressed sincere and deep respect for your great contribution to world peace and development.” He recalled that, at the beginning of the year, the state visit of the President of Belarus to China had occurred, during which the heads of state reached important agreements on further strengthening bilateral military cooperation, the military sphere included. “The purpose of my visit to Belarus is precisely the implementation of important agreements at the level of heads of state and the further strengthening of bilateral military cooperation.”
Lukashenko noted that Li was becoming something of a media celebrity and that his activity was being noted. He told Li that, “the vision[s] of the world order of China and Belarus completely coincide.” “We are absolute supporters of a multipolar world, territorial integrity, and the unity of the borders and territories established after the Second World War,” Lukashenko said. “We are for non-interference in the internal affairs of states. In a word, the entire palette on which China’s foreign policy is based is also inherent in our leadership. You should know that we have always supported China in all its aspirations for more than 30 years, because we consider the domestic and foreign policy of the People’s Republic of China to be absolutely fair, aimed at the peaceful resolution of all disputes and conflicts,” the Belarusian leader stressed.
Li also had extensive discussions with Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin. Khrenin noted that the two countries “have achieved an all-weather and comprehensive strategic partnership based on the foundation of friendship and mutual respect.” “In the context of a changing, but still crisis-like situation in the world, our relations can become an example for many countries,” Khrenin said.
