MINSK, 26 January (BelTA) - Belarus is successfully shifting its cooperation from West to East, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko told Chinese journalists after casting his vote in the presidential election in Minsk on 26 January, BelTA has learned.
“We will be developing cooperation in a quiet and calm manner, because there are still enough those who are watching to put spokes in our wheels. We have agreed with the Chinese that we will not publicize, go into too much detail about our cooperation. What we once planned and launched with Western companies, we have successfully completed and are working with the Chinese. China has everything for the development of our economy,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
At the same time, he pointed out that the Chinese, unlike their Western counterparts, do not hide their technologies and are ready to share them. “If they sell us machinery, they also give us the drawings so that we could make these gears, shafts, gearboxes and even engines in Belarus. Thus, we are successfully replacing the West with the East thanks to Russia and the People's Republic of China. There are other countries as well. This is the essence of our cooperation,” the president said.
The head of state is convinced that Belarusian-Chinese cooperation has a bright future. He said that the United States once opposed it.
“When [Former U.S. Secretary of State Michael] Pompeo came for a visit here, he said: “You are cooperating with China. You realize that this is the USA's enemy.” I said then: “When you slammed not only doors but also windows in front of us, China opened both windows and doors. We have maintained a lot of our high technology today thanks to China. Do you want me to turn my back on them? So tell me, as a man, how would you feel about that?” He smiled and said: “Well, I see.” He asked no more questions. They understand. We tell them frankly: “You were strangling us, and China was saving us. Why should we fight against China today and pursue a policy against the Chinese people and the Chinese authorities? I will never go for it, and you will not buy me in this regard.” It was such a frank conversation,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
“Here is our future: we are ready to do for you anything you need in Europe, and you will do everything for us so that our country remains high-tech and we can replace the Western representatives who have withdrawn from us. We will not go specific, we will not go into detail. The Chinese have helped us a lot, and I think they will continue to help us,” the president said.
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