China, Belarus to enhance cooperation in several fields

China and Belarus agreed to enhance cooperation in several areas, including investment, trade, education and science, on Thursday during the visit of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

President Xi Jinping and Lukashenko also signed a joint declaration to establish mutual-trust and win-win comprehensive strategic partnership. During the meeting, Lukashenko awarded Xi the "Peace and Friendship" medal of Belarus.

Calling Lukashenko "an old friend of Chinese people", Xi spoke highly of his efforts in improving bilateral ties.

"We have exchanged views for many times on bilateral relationship and jointly concerned issues," Xi said, adding that the two sides have reached wide consensus.

Xi said that China deems Belarus as a good friend and partner, and that the bilateral ties are experiencing the best period. The political mutual trust has been continuously enhanced, and the two sides have maintained frequent coordination in regional and international issues, he added.

Lukashenko said that Belarus and China has jointly implemented the Silk Road Economic Belt Initiative in recent years. The initiative, proposed by China, aims to connect Europe and Asia through reviving the ancient Silk Road.

China-Belarus Industrial Park, or the Great Stone, which the two countries are building together, is an important part of the Silk Road Economic Belt, he said. In a statement the two countries issued in May last year, China and Belarus said the park "is a strategic project in line with both countries' developmental interests".

The aim is for the 90-square-kilometer park, which is 25 km away from the Belarusian capital of Minsk, to become not only a logistics hub but also an industrial and high-tech base, said Kiryl Rudy, Belarusian ambassador to China.