No country in Europe is closer to China than Belarus, President Alexander Lukashenko said on 4 May at the meeting with the representatives of Chinese central and regional mass media partaking in the press tour to Belarus, BelTA has learned.

“Unfortunately, the global economy and politics have become unpredictable. However, in spite of the global challenges Belarus and China have created strong, solid, and reliable interstate ties, the relations of trustworthy all-round strategic partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation,” Alexander Lukashenko said. “Probably, no country in Europe is closer to China than Belarus.”

The head of state emphasized that Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhang Dejiang called the two countries iron brothers during his recent visit to Belarus. “Indeed, today we call our friendship which lasts for a quarter of a century and has its roots in deep history all-weather friendship,” the president remarked. “We have achieved important results in politics supporting each other in international organizations and in the economy.”

Belarus and China have already implemented dozens of investment projects in the energy sector and construction, are building the industrial park together. The exchange of students is increasingly vibrant in the humanitarian field, the cooperation in science and tourism is developing. “Nevertheless, I believe that the interaction between Belarus and China should be even more comprehensive and dynamic. That is why we view this year as a momentous year in bilateral relations,” the Belarusian leader emphasized.