MINSK, 20 September (BelTA) – Further enhancement of interaction with China is important for Belarus, President Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC Zhao Leji who is paying a visit to Minsk on 20-22 September, BelTA informs.

“I am pleased to welcome you on the hospitable Belarusian soil. This is your first visit to Belarus. It is great that you pay the first visit to our country after the election of the current leading members of the Communist Party of China,” the head of state said.

Using the opportunity he congratulated Zhao Leji on the appointment at the member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the CPC, Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC.

Alexander Lukashenko pointed out the importance of fact that he met with Xi Jinxing at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Qingdao in June 2018. During the meeting they discussed the beginning of a new stage in the Belarusian-Chinese Cooperation. “They say that Belarus and China have become iron friends”, the head of state said. He reminded that Vice President of the People's Republic of China Wang Qishan visited Minsk in May. “I am glad that the comprehensive dialogue at the highest level continues and that we preserve the depth of bilateral relations,” the president said. “Every meeting gives a new impulse in the common development of our countries for the sake of building the community with a common fate.”

“From the point of view of the Belarusian government our relations with China are intensive, increasingly vibrant and comprehensive. And the Belarusian side is satisfied with this dynamics. It is natural that there will always be pending issues and new goals on this long and very difficult road,” the president stressed.

“It is very important today to listen to your opinion on the quality of our interaction and the prospects of deepening the Belarusian-Chinese cooperation,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

The visit of the Chinese guest takes place as part of implementing a memorandum on cooperation between the Belarus President Administration and the international department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. On 20 September Zhao Leji will also hold talks with Belarus Prime Minister Sergei Rumas and Head of the Belarus President Administration Natalya Kochanova. On 21 September he will meet with Chairman of the Council of the Republic Mikhail Myasnikovich.

Zhao Leji will also visit the Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park Great Stone, the Belarusian State Museum of the Great Patriotic War History, the National Library, the historical and cultural complex Stalin Line.

Belarus and China have similar principles of the domestic and foreign policies, opinions about the problems on the global agenda. Regular interagency contacts have been established. The sides provide mutual assistance in international organizations.

In September 2016 Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and China President Xi Jinping reached an agreement to establish a new level of bilateral relations – trustworthy all-round strategic partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation.