Synergy of visions, boost for cooperative projects highlighted
Sunday marked the second day of President Xi Jinping’s packed schedule of meetings with visiting leaders on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in the coastal city of Qingdao. Following are highlights of the bilateral talks.
China deems Belarus to be an important partner for jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, and more efforts are needed to achieve win-win development, President Xi Jinping said while meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
China appreciates Belarus’ active participation in the Belt and Road projects, and the countries have achieved fruitful outcomes in building Belt and Road projects in recent years, Xi said.
The two countries should make more efforts to ensure that the people benefit from the cooperation, Xi said.
Xi suggested that China and Belarus should enhance the connection of strategy and policy, deepen cooperation in economy, trade and investment, and push forward the building of industrial parks.
The countries should boost people-to-people exchanges to improve mutual understanding and friendship between the people of both sides, Xi said.
Xi pointed out that with joint efforts of the two sides, the China-Belarus comprehensive strategic partnership has entered a new period of mutual trust and win-win cooperation.
Xi said that the consensuses between him and Lukashenko have been effectively implemented, which has brought gain for the people of both sides.
China supports Belarus to participate in cooperation with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and bring more benefits for people in the region, Xi said.
Lukashenko congratulated Xi’s successful hosting of the SCO Summit in Qingdao. He appreciated the spirit of equality and democracy exhibited in the hosting of the summit.
Belarus and China are all-weather partners and friends, he said, adding that the countries have supported each other on major issues of mutual concern.
Belarus firmly supports and proactively participates in the Belt and Road Initiative, and the country would like to deepen cooperation with China in areas such as the economy, trade and people-to-people exchanges, he added.
The two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation documents after the meeting.
China supports Afghanistan for its efforts in pushing the peace and reconciliation process to resolve the Afghan issue through political dialogue, President Xi Jinping said in a meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
The key to lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan rests with persistence in the “Afghan-led and Afghan-owned” political reconciliation process, Xi told his Afghan counterpart, adding that he appreciates the peace initiative Ghani unveiled to the Taliban early this year and the cease-fire he announced recently.
Hailing Afghanistan as China’s good neighbor, Xi said consolidating and developing the traditional friendship between the two countries is China’s consistent policy.
The countries should maintain high-level communications, maintain close exchanges between government and legislative departments as well as parties and the military at various levels, and strengthen local cooperation between authorities, he said.
Xi called for deepening pragmatic cooperation in economy and trade, saying China supports Afghanistan participating in construction of the Belt and Road Initiative to step up its infrastructure connectivity with other countries in the region.
The two countries should also enhance their security partnership in countering terrorism, Xi said.
China will continue to resolutely support Afghanistan’s efforts in preserving its domestic security, Xi added.
Ghani congratulated China on its success in holding the Qingdao summit, saying the summit has formulated a bright vision for the organization’s development.
The Afghan president expressed his gratitude to Xi for China’s long-term assistance to his country, particularly the nation’s peace and reconciliation process.
Afghanistan supports the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and other proposals in strengthening regional cooperation, and it is willing to intensify partnership with China in bilateral and regional affairs, Ghani said.
China stands ready to work with Mongolia to develop exchanges and cooperation based on the principle of mutual trust and win-win cooperation, and to strive for a new vista of partnership between the two countries, President Xi Jinping said in a meeting with Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga.
Calling China and Mongolia close neighbors connected by common mountains and rivers, Xi said the sound development of bilateral ties is in the interests of the two peoples.
The Chinese president appreciated his Mongolian counterpart’s attention to the China-Mongolia relationship, saying he is willing to work with Battulga to move forward the comprehensive strategic partnership.
Xi stressed the countries should bear in mind the direction of friendly cooperation from a strategic height and long-term perspective, as well as remember the mutual understanding and respect of each other’s core interests and major concerns.
Xi called for maintaining the good momentum of high-level visits and communications as well as exchanges in diversified fields to enhance mutual political trust.
The countries should develop mutually-beneficial collaboration, use major project cooperation to guide and promote bilateral pragmatic cooperation, and step up the synergy of Mongolia’s “development path” strategy with the Chinaproposed Belt and Road Initiative.
Noting Mongolia is the first observer state of the SCO, Xi said China supports it elevating its status of cooperation with the organization.
China is ready to work with Mongolia and Russia to carry forward the guideline on construction of an economic corridor and push for progress of the trilateral cooperation, Xi added.
Battulga extended his gratitude to Xi for his personal care in promoting bilateral ties, saying developing friendly relations and pragmatic cooperation with China is the priority of Mongolia’s diplomacy.
Mongolia adheres to the one-China policy, Battulga said, adding that his country will properly deal with Taiwan and Tibet-related affairs, which Mongolia considers China’s domestic affairs.