China and Belarus issued a joint communique here Monday,
pledging further efforts to promote bilateral relations and
cooperation in various fields.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao
and Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko attend the signing
ceremony of a joint communique on bilateral cooperation in culture
and other areas in Minsk, capital of Belarussia, on November 5,
2007.
The communique was signed during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's
official visit to Belarus.
During the visit, Wen held separate talks with Belarussian
President Alexander Lukashenko and acting Prime Minister Vladimir
Semashko. The leaders exchanged views and reached a wide-ranging
consensus on bilateral relations as well as regional and
international issues.
Bilateal relations
Both sides expressed satisfaction over the rapid and stable
development of bilateral relations since China and Belarus
established diplomatic ties 15 years ago.
The bilateral documents signed between the two countries have
laid a solid foundation for ensuring the smooth development of
all-round friendly relations and cooperation between them, the
communique said.
The two sides voiced their resolve to further expand mutually
beneficial cooperation in various fields so as to achieve common
development and prosperity.
They agreed to maintain regular contacts and exchanges at
various levels, including those at the top level.
Mutual support
The two sides also vowed to offer mutual support over issues
which bear on the core interests of the two countries.
China reiterated its support for Belarus' efforts to safeguard
national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity,
uphold national dignity, maintain domestic stability and develop
its national economy.
China opposes any attempt to interfere in Belarus' internal
affairs under the guise of "human rights."
Belarus reaffirmed its adherence to the one-China policy,
recognizing that the government of the People's Republic of China
is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China
and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese
territory.
Belarus is opposed to "Taiwan independence" and the "de jure
independence of Taiwan" in any form, such as the "referendum" on UN
membership under the name of Taiwan, the communique said.
Belarus also opposes Taiwan's membership in any international
and regional organizations where statehood is required and it will
not conduct any official exchanges with Taiwan, the communique
added.
Belarus supports all of China's efforts toward national
reunification and maintains that the Taiwan question belongs to
China's internal affairs and brooks no interference from
outside.
Recognizing Tibet is an inalienable part of the Chinese
territory, Belarus firmly opposes attempts by any country to use
the Dalai Lama issue to interfere in China's internal affairs, the
communique stated.
Economic and trade cooperation
China reiterated its support for Belarus' efforts to gain
membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) at an early
date.
The two countries agreed to promote bilateral cooperation in
large-scale projects and raise the level of their economic and
technological cooperation.
China encourages its enterprises to invest and conduct trade
cooperation in Belarus.
Cooperation in culture and other
areas
The two sides pledged to expand cooperation and exchanges in
science and technology, education, culture, health care, sports and
tourism. The two sides will also encourage cooperation between
local regions of the two countries.
International issues
The two sides affirmed that they hold identical or similar views
on a series of major international issues. Each country's affairs
should be decided by its people themselves and international issues
should be resolved through negotiations within the framework of
international law.
The two sides also stand for carrying out just reforms of the
United Nations and the UN Security Council, so as to increase their
ability to adapt to changing international situations.
China and Belarus agreed to enhance their close cooperation
within the frameworks of the UN and other international
organizations in efforts to maintain the authority and status of
the world body.
During Premier Wen's visit, the two sides signed an accord on
the provision of free assistance by China to Belarus, and a
framework agreement under which China will offer preferential loans
to Belarus.
Wen arrived here Sunday at the invitation of Lukashenko after
paying visits to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. In the Uzbek capital
of Tashkent, Wen attended the sixth meeting of prime ministers of
the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
After his stay in Belarus, Wen traveled on to Russia later in
the day, which is the last leg of his four-nation tour.
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(Xinhua News Agency November 6, 2007)
