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01 December 2020, 13:11

Opinion: People's diplomacy paves the way for new formats in Belarus-China cooperation

The Belarusian Society of Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries has started implementing a memorandum of cooperation with China's SCO Committee on Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation. Nina Ivanova, Chairwoman of the Presidium of the Belarusian Society of Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, talked about the importance of this cooperation and about people's diplomacy in the Belarusian-Chinese relations in an interview with BelTA.

Ms Ivanova, China is a strategic partner of Belarus. Does this facilitate people's diplomacy between the two countries?

“Definitely it does. Continuous communication between our countries within the framework of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, the China-Belarus Industrial Park Great Stone, the interstate agreements in education, culture and so on means, first of all, a broad spectrum of people engaged in the bilateral dialogue, seeking to strengthen friendship and to promote understanding.

The Belarusian Society of Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries has many years of history of cooperation with Chinese public organizations. We set up the Belarus-China Friendship Society in 1958, and we have been working with partner organizations in China ever since, first of all, with the Chinese People's Society of Friendship, relevant organizations in the provinces and arts associations.

In August 2020, you welcomed another partner from China - China's SCO Committee on Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, with which you signed a memorandum of cooperation...

The memorandum seeks to strengthen mutual trust, forge ties between civil society institutions, facilitate projects in the field of culture, sports and tourism and mutual consultations on these matters. We intend to reconcile our plans while organizing various public events, sharing international and national experience in people's diplomacy, and in promoting cultural heritage among the SCO countries. And first of all - in Belarus and China.

I should say that the Chinese partners have confirmed the seriousness of their intentions within a relatively short period of time. Thus, we held a joint online conference on the topic “Development of SCO People's Diplomacy Against the Background of the Coronavirus Epidemic”, updated each other on the ongoing developments many times. In addition, our new partners have shown willingness to support us in the face of the pandemic. Ms Shen Yueyue, Chairperson of China's SCO Committee on Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation, Vice-Chairwoman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, who visited Belarus and the House of Friendship in the autumn of 2019, had sent PPE to our organization and conveyed words of support for Belarusians in July 2020.

Now the world is going through dramatic challenges – global political and economic turbulence, the COVID-19 pandemic, soured relations between global powers, etc. All this increases instability and uncertainty. How, in your opinion, did these factors influence the development of people's diplomacy between Belarus and China?

Indeed, factors of instability both within the states and between the countries are increasing. I can see that the more aggravate the threats and challenges are, the higher the level of mobilization of China and its leadership is. This is confirmed by the fight against the coronavirus, in which China not only used modern technology but also maintained stability, united all in the face of danger.

Another confirmation of such unity is that amid a rather alarming situation in the world, the Chinese Communist Party held the 5th Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the 19th convocation to discuss large-scale and ambitious tasks. They included the establishment of a modernized socialist China with high-quality domestic development, a modern economic system and an improved system of public administration. The plenum defined the ways to achieve the goal, including through the economic and social development program for the 14th five-year period. China will continue supporting the central role of innovation and the real sector of the economy. The country will also continue developing its manufacturing sector, improving product quality, network technology and digital economy.

It is expected that by the two significant dates - the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China, and the 100th anniversary of the People's Republic of China - the living standards of the population defined as “a moderately well-off society” will significantly improve. The very fact that the plenum took place amid these difficult circumstances is a positive signal not only to the Chinese people but also to the whole world: China does not intend to stop on the way of the great revival of its nation and building the “community of a common destiny”.

We know that China is quick and determined not only to make decisions, but also to carry them out. The strong political will of the country's authorities and their ability to tap into state and human potential to achieve the goal is a recipe for success.

This is why I strongly believe that the Belarusian-Chinese relations, including in people's diplomacy, will be enhanced with new aspects, new areas of focus, and new formats. We can expect changes in the implementation of the programs and in the programs themselves. The new development paradigm will also require new scenarios for public associations. We believe that it is essential that all partners should pool efforts and aim at positive results.

To my mind, in these conditions, we can apply the following principle: global program – local implementation. This will not only save the partners' effort and time to draw up such programs, but also bring them closer together.

It is also important to increase the role of people's diplomacy in the programs of mutual interest. Involving public associations and local authorities in their implementation will undoubtedly yield positive results.

We are discussing these questions with our Chinese partners. Although we do not yet have clear-cut answers to them, one thing is clear: Belarus and China's people's diplomacy will seek and find the forms and integration programs to respond to the current challenges, following the logic of partnership.

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