On May 11 local time, President Xi Jinping met in Minsk with Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov of Belarus.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Belarus now witness rapid development of bilateral relations, with the depth and breadth of bilateral practical cooperation being greatly expanded. I held a candid, in-depth and fruitful talk with President Alexander Lukashenko yesterday, reaching new and important consensus on deepening the China-Belarus comprehensive strategic partnership and clarifying the key areas and direction for bilateral cooperation for the coming phase. We agreed to take the joint construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and commemoration of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War as opportunities to consolidate traditional friendship, enhance mutual political support, carry out all-round practical cooperation and intensify coordination and cooperation in regional and international affairs. I hope that both sides could earnestly implement these important consensus, especially those in docking the development strategies of both sides and speeding up the cooperation in such major projects as the China-Belarus Industrial Park, so as to better advance common development and bring benefits to the two peoples.

Xi Jinping stressed that in recent years, the two countries have witnessed a rapid increase in bilateral trade, which is characterized by huge cooperative potential, strong complementarities and tremendous development space. China stands ready to make joint efforts with Belarus to expand trade areas, optimize trade structure, boost trade quality and promote trade balance. The China-Belarus Industrial Park serves not only as a new exploration in the practical cooperation between the two countries, but also a symbolic project in the building of the Silk Road Economic Belt. It is hoped that the two sides could ensure a sound consultation over the projects accessing to the Park, map out a long-term plan, and take the China-Belarus Industrial Park as a center to forge internationally competitive industries. The two nations should bring such mechanisms as the China-Belarus Intergovernmental Committee of Cooperation and working team on China-Belarus local trade and economic cooperation into full play, strengthen overall planning and coordination, clarify and specify the priorities and goals of bilateral all-round cooperation under the new circumstances, and boost cooperation at local level. We support the two sides in advancing people-to-people and cultural exchanges in areas including culture and tourism.

Andrei Kobyakov noted that Belarus is a staunch strategic partner of China. The two countries enjoy huge potential for economic and trade cooperation and Belarus is committed to deepening bilateral practical cooperation with China. The Belarusian government agrees to uplift the level of bilateral trade and optimize trade structure, and stands ready to actively explore new channels in bilateral financing cooperation, so as to provide driving force for bilateral economic and trade cooperation. The Belarusian side supports China’s initiative of Silk Road Economic Belt, which can be connected with the vision of Eurasian economic integration put forward by President Alexander Lukashenko, so as to accelerate the flow of personnel and capital and promote the development of the Eurasian continent. Belarus pays special attention to the construction of the China-Belarus Industrial Park and regards the Park as a brand of economic and trade cooperation between Belarus and China. Chinese enterprises are welcomed to invest in the Park. Belarus and China should beef up scientific and technological cooperation in such areas as chemical engineering, biology and medicine, explore tourism cooperation, and promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others were present at the meeting.