On the morning of September 17, local time, Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), arrived in Minsk, capital of Belarus for an official goodwill visit to Belarus at the invitation of Vladimir Andreichenko, Chairman of the House of Representatives and Anatoly Rubinov, Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus.

It was a clear sunny day of autumn with pleasant breeze. At 10 am local time, Chairman Wu Bangguo's special plane landed at the Minsk International Airport. The national flags of the two countries flew high at the airport. Chinese Ambassador to Belarus Lu Guicheng and senior officials from the National Assembly of Belarus boarded the plane to greet Wu Bangguo. Chairman Wu shook hands and exchanged greetings with Chairman Vladimir Andreichenko and Deputy Chairman Viktor Guminsky of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus in front of the ramp. A Belarusian young woman presented flowers to Chairman Wu and Vice Chairman and Secretary General Li Jianguo of China's NPC Standing Committee who accompanied Wu on the visit.

In a written speech delivered at the airport, Wu said bilateral relations have enjoyed healthy and stable development since the establishment of diplomatic ties nearly 20 years ago. "During a visit to China by President Lukashenko in 2005, he and Chinese President Hu Jintao announced that bilateral ties had entered a new stage of comprehensive development and strategic cooperation. We are confident of the future progress of the China-Belarus relationship," said Wu. Wu appreciated Belarus' consistent support for China's position on issues concerning Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang and human rights, adding that China will, as always, support Belarus to continue on its self-chosen development path and pursue domestic and foreign policy in conformity with its domestic conditions. China will also support the Belarusian government's efforts to safeguard the country's sovereignty, social stability and economic development, said Wu.

During the visit, Wu will exchange in-depth views with Belarusian leaders including President Lukashenko, Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich, Chairman Vladimir Andreichenko and Chairman Anatoly Rubinov on deepening China-Belarus comprehensive friendly cooperative relations, strengthening parliamentary exchanges and expanding pragmatic cooperation in various fields as well as other issues of common concern.

Wu flew into Minsk from Moscow after concluding his official goodwill visit to Russia and attending the fifth meeting of China-Russia parliamentary cooperation committee. Upon leaving Moscow, Wu was seen off at the airport by Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma Alexander Mikhailovich Babakov, Russian Ambassador to China Sergey Razov, Chinese Ambassador to Russia and other officials.