On July 26, visiting Vice-President Hu Jintao held talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at the Presidential Palace. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern and reached agreements on many issues.


Vice-President Hu first conveyed President Jiang Zemin's cordial greetings and good wishes to President Lukashenko. He said that the leaders of the two countries have shown personal care and interest in the development of bilateral relations and made unremitting efforts. During the eight years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Belarus, the two countries have always trusted, understood and supported each other despite the vicissitudes in the international arena because of the following main reasons:


-- the two sides obey the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and other international norms and respect each other's choice of development roads and modes based on respective national conditions without interfering in each other's internal affairs;


-- the two sides make efforts to establish sincere, friendly and cooperative ties in many fields in the spirit of candid treatment, equality and mutual benefits;


-- the two sides share common or similar positions and interests over many international problems and practise effective cooperation.


Vice-President Hu reiterated that China supports Belarus in its efforts to safeguard state sovereignty and national dignity. The Chinese side thanked the Belarusian side for its consistent and valuable support on the Taiwan and human rights issues. Facts have shown that China and Belarus are reliable partners and trustworthy friends. Constantly expanding and deepening the friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation are fully in the fundamental interests of the two peoples. There are broad prospects for China-Belarus relations. The Chinese side is willing to work with the Belarusian side to push for a long-term stable relationship.


Lukashenko warmly welcomed the Vice-President's visit to Belarus and asked Vice-President Hu to convey his warm greetings to President Jiang Zemin. He said that it is one of his country's foreign policy priorities to further develop friendly and cooperative relations with China. The Belarusian people cherish their friendship with the Chinese people and thank China for its unreserved support over the years. The Belarusian government and people will make all their efforts to further enhance the Belarusian-Chinese friendship and expand cooperation between the two countries in all fields, particularly in economy, trade and science and technology. Chinese enterprises are welcome to Belarus for more investment. Belarus and China have always been supporting each other and cooperating closely in the international arena, and share identical views on such major issues as maintaining strategic stability and safety in the world and preventing nuclear proliferation and arms race. The Belarusian side will continue to adhere to the one-China principle, which holds legal power in Belarus, and never establish official ties with Taiwan in any form.


After their talks, the two leaders attended a ceremony at which the two sides signed an economic cooperation accord and an education cooperation document.


In the evening, Lukashenko hosted a welcoming ceremony for the delegation led by Vice-President Hu.