MINSK, 29 August (BelTA) – In an interview with China Media Group Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko explained the reasons for his frequent trips to China, BelTA has learned.
The interviewer was anchor and correspondent Zuo Yun, who specializes in covering international news and political topics. She noted that Aleksandr Lukashenko visited China 15 times during his presidency and asked what is behind such a number of visits to the PRC.
The head of state pointed out that he visited China for the first time when he was still a member of parliament. Upon his return, he proposed that the parliament take a closer look at the development path chosen by China. “It might sound immodest, but I declared then, with what proved to be prophetic, that the future belongs to China,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.
He noted that his words fell on deaf ears. The Belarusian opposition was pro-Western and nationalistic. Despite being a small parliamentary minority, they were the most vocal. They criticized China’s path as unacceptable and unsuitable for Belarus. Yet, when Aleksandr Lukashenko became president, he took an even closer look at the People’s Republic of China.
“China and the Soviet Union enjoyed strong relations. During that era, China adopted many things from us. However, we eventually dismantled them, while China successfully refined them, adding their own unique elements to create the strong China of the present,” the head of state said.
The president said that he advocated for the Chinese development model in Belarus, convinced of its merits. “I visit China often to maintain our focus on this path of development,” he added.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that China-Belarus cooperation is constantly growing and diversifying. “Thus, every one of my visits to China is dedicated to these new ventures. I am deeply thankful that you have cooperated with us with remarkable openness, an openness that is not characteristic of you,” he concluded.
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