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Belarus leader Lukashenko visits China to meet Xi

By AFP
December 04, 2023

MOSCOW: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a staunch ally of Moscow, is visiting China on Sunday and Monday to meet his counterpart Xi Jinping, the Belarusian presidency said.

On Monday, he will hold talks with Xi on issues including “trade, the economy, investment and international cooperation”, the presidency announced on Sunday. Belarusian state media reported later Sunday that Lukashenko´s plane had landed in Beijing.

This photograph shows Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arriving to welcome leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation before a meeting in Minsk on November 23, 2023. — AFP
This photograph shows Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arriving to welcome leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation before a meeting in Minsk on November 23, 2023. — AFP

Lukashenko was last in China at the end of February and early March, a visit that was closely scrutinised following Russia´s offensive in Ukraine. Belarus did not mention Russia´s offensive in its statement on the visit. China, a close partner of Moscow, has not publicly condemned Russia for its offensive, despite calls to do so by the United States, European countries and others.