When cooperation is reinforced by friendship

Many landmark projects are being implemented in Belarus with Chinese support. Among the most famous are the “Great Stone” industrial park and the joint production of Geely cars. Definitely, new ones will be added quite soon. This assumption can easily be made on the results of the meeting between President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Belarus Cui Qiming.

Yes, true friendship knows no obstacles. And Alexan‑ der Lukashenko paid to it special attention during the meeting at the Independence Palace, having said that at present nobody and nothing, including the notorious corona‑ virus, could prevent us from building good relations between our countries. The President of Belarus drew attention to the fact that the visit of President of the People’s Republic of Chi‑ na Xi Jinping to Minsk was currently under consideration and said to the Ambassador the following: —T ell my friend that we are waiting for him in Belarus. We still have time to get prepared for the visit so that it could be filled with the necessary activities for the two states.

According to Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus and China have interesting projects, including the previously announced construction of a national football stadium and a swimming pool corresponding to the international standard: —I w ould like us to give a start to these construction pro‑ jects during the visit of the President of China. They will be exemplary construction sites. I would like to have these two Chinese facilities in the centre of Europe, which will host ma‑ jor international competitions (and we already have interna‑ tional organizations’ confirmation).

The topic of combating the coronavirus was also discussed at the meeting. All the more so, that optimistic news comes from China against the backdrop of increasing restric‑ tions in European countries. As we know, the Chinese authori‑ ties abolished restrictions on the entry and exit of the popula‑ tion from Hubei Province. In the administrative center of the p rovince, the city of Wuhan, where the first cases of the infection were recorded, the restrictions were also lifted. This decision was made in the light of the improving epidemiological situation in the region. The Chinese experience in combating the epidemic did not go unnoticed and proved to be in demand, including in our country. This year, Belarus has twice transported by air hu‑ manitarian aid to China. Now it accepts with gratitude the sup‑ port of China. Alexander Lukashenko said in this regard: —There was no case when we asked Chinese specialists, our friends a question and they gave no answer. All the bitter experience they have accumulated over these months is gen‑ erously shared with Belarusian epidemiologists, microbiolo‑ gists, doctors. We have this line preserved, our system is about the same as in China, as it used to be in the Soviet Union. Therefore, we have specialists to deal with these problems. Thank you and all the Chinese people for the help you are giving us now.

The Head of State drew attention to a fundamental point: all the cases of COVID 19 recorded in Belarus had been im‑ ported from abroad: — W e have not developed this virus and, moreover, we have not been and are not a starting point of this virus.

At the same time, despite a large number of Chinese citi‑ zens who are studying and working in Belarus, there was not a single case of their bringing the coronavirus to the country. —We have been working very carefully in this respect,— Alexander Lukashenko stressed.— Not because we are not afraid of anything. It is not that. We are trying to act profes‑ sionally and point by point, based on your and ours experience. B elarus has not closed its border with any state. But it has been very seriously controlling the situation with the arrival of citizens from epidemiologically unfavorable countries.

—Different people come to us, but at the airport (mainly air traffic) we thoroughly control those who come to Bela‑ rus,— said Alexander Lukashenko.

However, the precautionary measures during this period are connected not only with the coronavirus epidemic. In the inter - season period there is always a rise in viral infec‑ tions in Belarus. Therefore, according to the President, one should not forget about patients with other serious diseases: —We shouldn’t miss this issue. That’s why I advised the Ministry of Health not to relax their attention to the people with other diseases.

Practice shows that the people who are most susceptible to all kinds of infections and get to hospitals are mainly the ones who have a number of diseases, i.e . cardiovascular and respir‑ atory diseases, hypertension, overweight, diabetes and so on. —Of course, any virus attacks such a person. Our doc‑ tors still manage to cope, but we are not going to relax, — s aid Alexander Lukashenko.

It is known that, as a rule, elderly people most vulnerable to virus attacks, are always in the risk group. They are now un‑ der special care. Social services, volunteer organizations help the elderly with the delivery of medicines, food. The President has instructed the vertical power officials to join in helping those who need it now. And it is not necessary to wait for a request for help but to take initiative. No elderly person should be neglected. The head of state focuses the entire local vertical power structure on it.

Alexander Lukashenko told the Chinese Ambassador about what was being done in Belarus to support vulnerable social groups. The President stressed: —We are guided by life. Everything can happen in life, but the main thing is not to panic. I am most afraid that people will get overwrought by what is happening in the mass media. All other diseases can be caused by psychosis. That’s what experts say. Therefore, we use your and our experience to overcome the highest incidence at the maximum permissible for us level.

China-Belarus Industrial Park "Great Stone"

At his meeting with the President of Belarus, Cui Qiming extended warm greetings and best wishes from Presi‑ dent Xi Jinping to Alexander Lukashenko: —You always pay much attention to the development of relations with China, promote the Chinese-Belarusian co‑ operation in various areas. The Chinese side highly appreci‑ ates it.

Speaking to the journalists after the meeting with the Head of State, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China stressed that in recent years, under the personal leadership of President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and President of China Xi Jinping, the bilateral cooperation between our coun‑ tries had reached the best level in the history of our diplomatic relations: — China intends to continue working with Belarus to im‑ plement the agreements reached at the highest level, — said Cui Qiming.

He also thanked the Belarusian people for their kind at‑ titude to the citizens of China living in Belarus: —They do not feel any discrimination. It also confirms that China and Belarus have built a truly all-weather friendship.

As for combating the coronavirus, the diplomat noted that this problem had no citizenship and the epidemic had no bor‑ ders. So, the whole world should fight this evil. Belarus and China showed a good example of unity in this matter, said Cui Qiming: —On the instructions of Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus has twice sent humanitarian aid to China. In turn, the Chinese side has sent a set of reagents to Belarus to determine the vi‑ rus and means of protection. We say that a friend in need is a friend indeed. China and Belarus are fighting the epidemic together, providing each other with help and support, which reflects the high level of Chinese-Belarusian relations and friendship between the peoples. By Oleg Bogomazov. Photo by BelTA.