BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

2005-12-06

China, Belarus issue joint statement

BEIJING, Dec. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- China and Belarus issued a joint statement here Tuesday, pledging to promote China-Belarus relations and to enhance cooperation in various fields.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Belarusian President Alexander Grigorievich Lukashenko, who arrived here Sunday on a three-day official visit to China as guest of President Hu, issued the statement.

Leaders of the two countries agreed that to cement and promote China-Belarus relations accords with fundamental interests of bothnations and peoples, and is conducive for safeguarding peace, stability and development of the region and the world at large.

According to the statement, both sides are satisfied with the healthy and fruitful development of bilateral relations, and China-Belarus relations has entered a new phase of all-round development and strategic cooperation.

China and Belarus are ready to maintain the active momentum of high-level visits and exchanges in other levels, and will continueto keep close cooperation in major issues concerning national independence, sovereignty, consolidation, territorial integrity and national dignity, in an effort to safeguard the fundamental interests of both nations, says the statement.

Belarus promised in the statement to abide by principles of China-Belarus political document on the Taiwan issue, to firmly support the one-China policy, to oppose so-called "Taiwan independence" in any form, to oppose Taiwan to join in the United Nations and other international organizations, and not to set up official links with Taiwan or sell weapons to Taiwan.

Belarus holds that Taiwan issue is China's internel affair, andsupports the the Anti-Secession Law passed by China'sNational People's Congress, which accords with the common desire and fundamental interests of all Chinese people, says the statement.

China understands and respects Belarus's choice on its independent foreign and domestic policy, and supports Belarus's efforts to safeguard social stability and promote economic and social progress, according to the statement.

Both sides agreed in the statement that China and Belarus enjoyincreasingly close and fruitful cooperation in economy, trade, science, technology, military, culture, education, tourism, socialinsurance and press fields.

The two countries will jointly make effective measures to expand trade scale, improve trade service system in bank, insurance and arbitration, enhance cooperation in mechanical manufacture, telecommunication, energy, culture, science and technology, and increase exchanges between local governments of the two nations, says the statement.

China welcomes Belarus to take part in China's development of the western region and the strategy to revitalize northeast China and other old industrial bases, says the statement.

China supports Belarus to join in the World Trade Organization (WTO) at an early date. The two sides has finished the market access talks concerning Belarus's WTO entry, acknowledging each other's full market economy status. Both nations will strengthen cooperation under the WTO framework, says the statement.

According to the statement, the two countries affirm the roles of the UN Charter and the UN Security Council in dealing with international relations and safeguarding world peace and safety. Both sides hold that the UN Security Council should make reforms. The UN reforms should be conducted on the basis of coordination ofall UN member states, without setting timetable or forced votes. The reforms should address the special concerns of developing countries, and be proceeded in line with the UN Charter.

Both sides will maintain frequent consultations within the framework of international and regional organizations, promote cooperation in issues concerning anti-terrorism, human rights and the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, and support international efforts on the Middle East peace process and Iraq's reconstruction.

The two sides stress that the six-party talks are a practical and effective method for peaceful solution to the Korean Peninsulanuclear issue. They hope that all concerned parties would implement their promises in the joint statement issued during the fourth round of six-party talks, so as to make positive contribution to promoting the six-party talks process.

According to the statement, Chinese President Hu Jintao accepted the invitation offered by his Belarusian counterpart to pay a state visit to Belarus. The date will be consulted through adiplomatic channel.

Source:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-12/06/content_3885298.htm