Photo: VCG

China and Belarus should continue to cooperate closely, practice true multilateralism, safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, and uphold international fairness and justice, said Chinese President Xi Jinping during a phone conversation with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Monday.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of China-Belarus diplomatic ties, Xi said, adding that over the past 30 years, China-Belarus relations have achieved fruitful results, and the two sides have become comprehensive strategic partners of mutual trust and win-win cooperation.

He noted that between the two countries, Belt and Road cooperation has registered steady progress; trade has increased 50-fold in 30 years; a number of large projects, including the China-Belarus industrial park and the China-Europe Railway Express, have taken root and borne fruit.

The China-Belarus relationship has set a good example of friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries, he stressed.

Taking the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic ties as a new starting point to further promote bilateral relations, the two sides should expand the scale of bilateral trade, strengthen cooperation in areas such as innovative, green and digital development, and ensure the stable operation and sustainable development of the China-Europe Railway Express, Xi suggested, adding that they should also continuously enhance vaccine cooperation.

Citing the complex changes in the current international and regional situation, Xi stressed that China and Belarus should advocate the common values of mankind, guide the international community to adopt a correct approach to democracy and human rights, and promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

China, he added, opposes external forces interfering in Belarus' internal affairs, and, as always, supports Belarus in pursuing a development path suited to its own national conditions.

For his part, Lukashenko thanked China for always providing firm political and moral support for Belarus.

Belarus, he added, will always be a staunch cooperation partner of China, and it stands ready to take the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year as an opportunity to elevate bilateral relations to a new level.

He said his country hopes to work with China to promote the development of the Belarus-China industrial park and deepen cooperation in such fields as pandemic response, traditional Chinese medicine, trade, investment and education.