Alexander Lukashenko's working visit to China is over. Its results will be subject to close analysis of specialists. But now we can already state with certainty: the relations between Belarus and China develop. On Tuesday Alexander Lukashenko met with the Chairman of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping. The Belarusian leader pointed to the special role of China for our country, and also shared his impressions of participation in the large-scale forum One Belt and One Road. The summit became a platform for bilateral talks. In particular, the parties signed an intergovernmental agreement on technical and economic assistance, talked about the possibility of mutual introduction of a visa-free regime, the creation of a working group on combating terrorism, and allocation of a loan to Belarus.
Xi Jinping, Chairman of the People's Republic of China: "In recent years, our relations with you have become increasingly close, we have repeatedly held bilateral and multilateral meetings and can exchange views on a wide range of issues. Each sphere of our relations is continuously developing. Over the 25 years of diplomatic relations, we established relations of a trustful all-round strategic partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation. The cooperation between our countries will develop regardless of any circumstances."
Together we are setting up a working group to combat terrorism. We are also interested in expanding military-technical cooperation.
In addition, tourists and businessmen will soon be able to exchange visits with the same enviable frequency as the leaders of Belarus and China do. Countries are negotiating the introduction of a visa-free regime for up to 30 days.
Alexander Lukashenko held talks with the leaders of Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Our President announced the initiatives of the Belarusian party.
The idea of building a new Silk Road, which will connect Europe and Asia, was proposed in 2013 by Mr. Xi Jinping. It will be a transport network from the Pacific to the Baltic Sea, while barriers to trade and investment will be reduced. Our country was the first in Europe and one of the first in the world to support the initiative of the leader of the PRC and actively joined the creation of a new belt.
Sergei Kizima, Head of the International Relations Department of the Academy of Management under the President of Belarus: "The prospects for the implementation of this concept in Belarus in the coming years include tens of thousands of new jobs, opportunities for faster wages growth."
Together with China, we are building an industrial park Great Stone. And this is not only infrastructure and business for tens of billions of dollars, but also a new legal framework for relations, which is exemplary for the world. The industrial hub is the largest in Central and Eastern Europe.
It is not by chance that when Alexander Lukashenko went on a visit to China, he signed a decree simplifying working conditions in the industrial park.
Following the results of the summit in Beijing, 68 countries signed agreements with China on cooperation within the framework of One Belt and One Road Initiative.
