Lukashenko meets Xi again
This is the second time this year that Belarusian ruler Lukashenko has traveled to Beijing. Officially, it is about economic and international cooperation. But military cooperation between the two countries is also becoming stronger.
According to his office, Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko will visit China on Sunday and Monday. On Monday, Lukashenko will meet the Chinese head of state Xi Jinping, his presidential office announced. The talks will focus on "trade, economy, investment and international cooperation". Whether Lukashenko has already arrived in China remained unclear at first.
The Belarusian ruler and close ally of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin last traveled to Beijing at the end of February. At that time, his talks with the Chinese head of state focused on the Russian offensive in Ukraine. Lukashenko made clear his unreserved support for the Chinese mediation efforts at the time. These were met with skepticism in the West.
Indestructible friendship
Xi, for his part, called the Chinese-Belarusian friendship "indestructible". Both sides should constantly strengthen mutual political trust and remain true friends and good partners of the other, said China's head of state during his last visit. In August, China's Defense Minister Li Shangfu also visited Belarus. According to Li, this was about closer military coordination with the Eastern European country.
Whether the renewed meeting between Lukashenko and Xi will also deal with the situation in Ukraine was initially left open by the presidential office in Minsk. Despite repeated calls from the West, Beijing, as a close partner of Moscow, has not yet officially condemned the Russian offensive. China has declared that it is playing a neutral role in Russia's attack on its neighbor. Belarus borders both Ukraine and Russia and has been subject to Western sanctions for its role in supporting the ongoing invasion. With Lukashenko's approval, Russia has used Belarus to attack Ukraine, with Russian soldiers also stationed on Belarusian territory.
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The Belarusian ruler, Alexander Lukashenko, is set to meet with Chinese head of state, Xi Jinping, in China on Monday. This will be their second meeting this year, with the focus on trade, economy, investment, and international cooperation.
During his last visit, Xi referred to the Chinese-Belarusian friendship as "indestructible," emphasizing the need for both sides to continually strengthen political trust and maintain their roles as good partners.
Source: www.ntv.de
