Key takeaways:
- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will arrive in Beijing for a three-day state visit to upgrade ties to an “all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership”.
- The visit has raised concerns from United States officials that Beijing may be considering aiding Moscow in its ongoing assault on Ukraine.
- The visit is being seen as a sign of China’s growing influence in the region and could lead to increased economic cooperation between the two countries.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will arrive in Beijing on Tuesday for a three-day state visit, meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to upgrade their countries’ ties to an “all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership.” This visit comes after Beijing released a position paper on Russia’s war in Ukraine insisting it is a neutral party and calling for dialogue between the two sides.
The visit has raised concerns from United States officials that Beijing may be considering aiding Moscow in its ongoing assault on Ukraine. Lukashenko is a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has allowed Russian troops to use Belarus to stage military exercises.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Sunday that the two leaders will exchange views on bilateral ties and international and regional issues of common concern. She added that the two sides will also sign a number of cooperation documents.
The visit is being seen as a sign of China’s growing influence in the region and its willingness to engage in diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. It also comes at a time when the US and its allies are increasing pressure on Russia over its actions in Ukraine.
China has long been a major trading partner of Belarus, and the two countries have worked together on a number of projects, including the construction of a nuclear power plant in Belarus. The visit is expected to further strengthen the two countries’ ties and could lead to increased economic cooperation.
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