BEIJING, 15 May (BelTA) – States can achieve prosperity only through joint peaceful and mutually beneficial development, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said at the Leaders' Roundtable Summit at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on 15 May, BelTA has learned.
The Belarusian leader noted that today the world is experiencing active evolvement and global changes. These changes are associated with continuous challenges and risks.
“Among them is terrorism, migration crisis, dangerous communicable diseases, climate change and other new security threats. Moreover, the global weak economic growth has a huge impact on deepening differences between countries. Disagreements are often settled with the use of weapons. That is why it is of high importance today to take a historical opportunity to change the model of interstate cooperation. Prosperity can be achieved only through joint peaceful and mutually beneficial development,” Alexander Lukashenko stressed.
The Belarusian president emphasized that the Belt and Road and the Community of Common Destiny global initiatives put forward by Chinese leader Xi Jinping are not just an idea for economic partnership. They are, first of all, a uniting philosophy of international cooperation. “These concepts do not envisage a hard-sell approach or trade expansion of countries. China comes as a friendly state, suggesting mechanisms to promote joint development,” the Belarusian leader said.
The One Belt, One Road project reshapes the global economic map, creates new points of growth and develops new international relations. This is integration above blocs with a view to harmonizing all economic institutions and removing barriers for free movement of goods, investment and people. “I am proud that Belarus has become Europe's first country and one of the first states in the world to join the Silk Road Economic Belt project,” Alexander Lukashenko said.
Belarus and China have been promoting the Great Stone Industrial Park project as part of the Community of Common Destiny initiative. The park is being built as a city of the future: eco-friendly, innovative and comfortable for people to live and work. The two countries are developing both the infrastructure and laws for this Silk Road Economic Belt hub.
“I would like to reiterate that Belarus is a reliable and responsible partner for China. The present relations between our countries testify to the fact. They are a comprehensive trustworthy strategic partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation. We are an open country. Neighborliness is Belarus' major principle. Belarus is ready for cooperation for international development. Here and now, we should think about the present generation and be responsible for our children and grandchildren,” the Belarusian head of state said.
