Foreign and Military Affairs
Vice president Xi arrives in Belarus for visit
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-03-25 01:59
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 Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping (L) and Belarussian PresidentAlexander Lukashenko meet for talks in Minsk, March 24, 2010. [Agencies] |
MINSK: Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrived here Wednesday for an official visit at the invitation of Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko.
In a written statement upon his arrival, Xi said China and Belarus have achieved significant cooperation results in all fields including politics, economy, trade and humanities since forging diplomatic ties 18 years ago.
Both countries have supported each other on major issues of mutual concern, maintained close coordination in international affairs, and made positive contribution toward regional stability and collective prosperity.
In December 2005, Chinese President Hu Jintao signed a joint statement with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in China, which symbolized bilateral ties entering into a new phase of comprehensive development and strategic cooperation, said Xi.
"During my stay in Belarus, I will meet with Lukashenko as well as other Belarusian government and parliament leaders. We will exchange views over deepening bilateral friendly cooperation, expanding pragmatic cooperation in all sectors and other issues of common concern," said Xi, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
"Based upon collective efforts from both sides, I believe my visit will be a complete success," he said.
Belarus is the second leg of Xi's four-nation Europe tour that also includes Russia, Finland and Sweden.
Xi's trip to Minsk will bring fresh momentum to the development of the two countries' relations, Anatoly Tozik, Belarussian ambassador to China, told reporters prior to Xi's visit.
The ambassador said Belarus believes China would always be a true friend and a partner, adding that bilateral cooperation would benefit the peoples of both countries.
The two countries will also sign a series of documents aimed at promoting bilateral cooperation, said Tozik.
