I. A brief Review of Bilateral Political Relations

1,Chinese officials who visited Belarus also include General Fu Quanyou, member of the Central Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, and Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) (May 2002).

2, Belarussian officials who visited also include Minister of National Defense Ktjybl Ctvtyjdbx Vfkmwtd (April 2002) and Lieutenant General Kruliaovf Chief of the General Staff of the Belarussian Armed Force (March 2003).

3, By the year 2002, China and Belarus had already signed in all 50 agreements on government and department cooperation between the two countries.

4, In 2002, the bilateral trade volume between China and Belarus came to US$80.08 million, increasing by 85.1 percent over the previous year. Among them, Chinese export was US$16.22 million, and import US$63.86 million.

II. Political Relations and Important Visits

On October 1, 2002, Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko, Premier Nowitski, Speaker of the House of Republics of the Belarussian National Assembly Voytovich, Chairman of the House of Representatives Alexander Popov, and Foreign Minister Khevostov sent letters to Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Premier Zhu Rongji, Chairman Li Peng of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan respectively to congratulate on the National Day of China.

On November 20, 2002, Belarussian President Lukashenko sent a congratulatory telegram to Hu Jintao on his election of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

From November 21 to 23, 2002, at the invitation of the Shanghai Municipal Government, Belarussian First Vice Premier Kshidulski led a delegation to China to attend the Shanghai Industrial Exhibition. Shanghai Executive Deputy Major Jiang Yiren met with the delegation.

On February 25, 2003, Belarussian President Lukashenko sent a letter of condolence to Chinese President Jiang Zemin to extend his sympathy and solicitude to the relatives of those who died from the earthquake taken place in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region.

On March 15, 2003, Belarussian President Lukashenko extended a congratulatory letter to Hu Jintao on his election of the president of China.

On March 18, 2003, Belarussian Foreign Minister Khevostov sent a congratulatory letter to Li Zhaoxing for his election as Chinese Foreign Minister.

On March 20, 2003, Belarussian Prime Minister Nowistki sent a congratulatory letter to Wen Jiabao on his election as Chinese Premier.

On March 24, 2003, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing sent a congratulatory letter to newly elected Belarussian Foreign Minister Martinov on his election.

III. Economic and technological cooperation and trade ties

1, The trade volume between China and Belarus in 2002 amounted to US$80.08 million, up 85.1 percent compared with that of the previous year. Of the total, Chinese export was US$16.22 million, up 85.3 percent from the previous year, and import US$63.86 million, up 85.1 percent.

2, On September 9, 2002, the fifth meeting of the Sino-Belarussian Joint Economic and Trade Committee was held in Minsk, Capital of Belarus. Vice Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Long Yongtu and Belarussian Minister of Trade Kurisikov co-chaired the meeting. Puyakov, Belarussian Vice Premier and Minister of Economy, and Puyaqiaov, Belarussian First Vice Foreign Minister, met with the Chinese delegation. During the meeting, the two sides signed an exchange of notes on Belarussian provision to China free assistance with a total worth of 10 million yuan Renminbi

IV. Cooperation in the fields of science and technology, culture, and military affairs

From August 15 to 18, 2002, at the invitation of Governor Tarka of Brest, Belarus, Vice Director Zhang Hongxiang of the Standing Committee of the Hubei Provincial Congress led a delegation to Belarus.

From October 9 to 12 2002, at the invitation of Belarussian Ministry of Culture, Vice Minister of Culture Chen Xiao led a delegation to Belarus to attend the "China Culture Day'' held in European country.

From October 28 to 31, 2002, at the invitation of the Academy of Administration of China, Kuhalsik , president of Belarussian Academy of Presidential Management, visited China. Wang Zhongyu, State Councilor, Secretary General of the State Council, and President of the Academy of Administration of China, met with the delegation.

From November 4 to 9, 2002, the fifth regular meeting of the Sino-Belarussian Science and Technology Joint Committee was convened in Ji Nan, the capital city of Shan Dong Province.

From December 2 to 3, 2002, at the invitation of the Belarussian Government, State Councilor Wang Zhongyu led an audit delegation to Belarus. Belarussian First Vice Premier Kshidulski, Director of the General Office of the President Latepov, and Chairman of the Supervisory Committee Toshik met with the delegation respectively.

From December 3 to 9, 2002, at the invitation of the China Institute of Foreign Affairs, Director of the Center of Information of Belarus Sokorovski led a journalist delegation to China, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Guchang, Vice President of the China Institute of Foreign Affairs Xin Futan, and Secretary General Song Xiaowu of the Office for Economic Restructuring of the State Council met with the delegation.

From April 1 to 5 2003, Deputy Secretary General of the All-China Youth Federation led a delegation to Belarus. During the visit, Belarussian Vice Premier Drazen, Minister of Education Burikashen, and Lekitorov, Chairman of the Committee of Health, Sport, Family, and Youth under the National Assembly, met with the delegation respectively.

V. Military Exchanges

From March 31 to April 3, 2003, Chief of the General Staff of the Belarussian Armed Force Kruliaovf led a military delegation to China.