MINSK, 30 August (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has left the country to go on a working trip to the People’s Republic of China, BelTA has learned.
The aircraft with the head of state on board lifted off an airfield in the town of Bolbasovo (Aleksandr Lukashenko had spent the day before the departure in his hometown area) and headed to the Chinese city of Tianjin where a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will take place on 31 August – 1 September.
The importance of Belarus being part of the “Shanghai family”
The current summit will be the largest one in the entire history of the association. By the way, Belarus joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a full member of the organization during last year’s summit.
At present ten states are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization: Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
The Belarus president’s press service told BelTA that in his speech at a session of the SCO Council of Heads of State Aleksandr Lukashenko will present Belarus’ proposals on further advancement of multi-faceted cooperation inside the “Shanghai family” and will identify the key matters that require close attention.
Among the most important documents the heads of state are expected to pass a Tianjin declaration and approve a strategy to guide the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization for the next ten years – till 2035. Apart from that, there are plans to look into a number of other matters in the spheres of security, economic cooperation, and humanitarian cooperation, plans to make the relevant decisions, joint statements, and sign interstate agreements.
The Belarus president will also take part in the summit in the SCO Plus format. Participants of the session will be joined by heads of observer states, international organizations, and high guests invited by the presiding country of China. The total number exceeds 30 heads of state and heads of international organizations.
In an interview granted to the China Media Group and published the day before the visit Aleksandr Lukashenko explained what he thinks about Belarus’ membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
“It is very important for us – as you have said – to be in this family. It is inspiring for any nation, including Belarus, to know that their president is part of this reputable family,” the head of state said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is composed of states that play a defining role in global development. Such powerful countries like Russia, China, and India represent kind of a core, with other developed and advanced countries gathering around it.
“We have a strong currency – the yuan –which many countries, including our own, are now turning to. We already settle more transactions in yuans than in dollars, a trend accelerated by the sanctions enforced by the United States of America without a thought. Currencies like the rupee and the Russian ruble are also robust. This is why we have certain might in financial terms. No major global issue can be resolved economically or politically without the SCO countries,” the head of state is confident.
Aleksandr Lukashenko also quoted data, according to which the SCO countries account for an absolutely majority of Belarus’ trade turnover and export. Various problems and prospects are discussed within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
“[SCO membership] is a great honor, but it is also immensely beneficial for our economy and, in particular, our manufacturing sector. Particularly for the manufacturing sector. In China we now source all the essential goods we used to buy from the West: engines, hydraulic systems, and parts for our automotive sector,” the president mentioned one of the cooperation areas.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that he is in favor of more rapid advancement of cooperation within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. “It may be high time for us to create our own currency for international transactions. It may be the yuan. It may be some other common currency,” he said.
Expectations concerning the parade in Beijing
Upon the invitation of China’s leadership in Beijing on 3 September Aleksandr Lukashenko will take part in festivities dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory over Japanese militarism and the end of World War Two. Aleksandr Lukashenko will also attend a parade in Tiananmen Square.
The Belarusian head of state has previously attended similar events on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the commemorative dates. During the interview Aleksandr Lukashenko was asked whether he had any special expectations this time.
“I want to see what over the past 10 years you have achieved in military terms, the defense capability of China, and compare it to what it was like 10 years ago,” the Belarusian leader said. “Back then it was a very strong, very powerful organization. You demonstrated the most advanced weapons. I think that our expectations will be met by Xi Jinping and he will not let us down. He will show the most advanced technologies you have in the People’s Republic of China today.”
The bilateral agenda during the visit
While in China the Belarus president is also expected to have negotiations with other heads of state. There are plans to pay close attention to matters of advancement of Belarus-China cooperation.
During the interview Aleksandr Lukashenko said that Belarus learns from China and borrows the best practices in many areas: “I am convinced that we should not just take a close look at China. We should take some things and integrate into our reality.”
In 2022 Belarus-China relations were elevated to all-weather and all-round strategic partnership. “We see it because it is manifested in our cooperation. Primarily in the field of economy. As for politics, I hope to God that our economy, our economic and financial relations would reach the level of political ones,” the head of state said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that Belarus and China have no problems and differences of opinion. “If we need to coordinate some matter, make a joint decision, support each other, then one call from Beijing to Minsk or vice versa will suffice. And we will come to terms on everything within several minutes,” he assured.
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