President Lukashenko asks China for their economic support
The President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, will pay an official visit to China between February 28 and March 2, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing announced on Saturday. “At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, will undertake a state visit to China between February 28 and March 2,” said the spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hua Chunying. Lukashenko is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, on which Belarus is financially and politically dependent. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang shared with his Belarusian counterpart Sergei Aleinik, in a telephone conversation on Friday, Beijing’s willingness to work together with Belarus to deepen mutual political trust, a statement from Chinese diplomacy states. During a meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Xi Jinping and Aleksandr Lukashenko announced a strategic partnership “for all times” in September 2022.
Lukashenko is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has backed Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Belarus is dependent on its neighbor financially and politically. China is willing to work with Belarus to deepen mutual political trust, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang told his Belarusian counterpart Sergei Aleinik during a phone conversation on Friday, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement. A year ago, Belarus, which shares a border with Ukraine and Russia, allowed Russia to use its territory as a launchpad for its attack on Ukraine. Lukashenko said earlier this month that Belarus was ready to do so again. Kyiv has voiced concerns for months that Belarus could join the war on Russia’s side, a potential threat that has forced it to divert troops to defend the north of Ukraine while waging war with Russia in the east and south. China will also continue to support Belarus in maintaining its national stability and will oppose attempts by “external forces” to interfere in its internal affairs or impose “illegal” unilateral sanctions on Minsk, Qin told Aleinik.
By Cora Sulleyman
