In the context of existing poor relations with the EU, Belarus has reoriented itself and found very strong and reliable friends in Asia, with China being its main partner. This was told to journalists in New York by Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov.
“In current conditions, surprisingly, if today there had not been such bad relations with the European Union, then, of course, we would never have watched the development of relations with our partners in the Asian region so closely,” – stated Ryzhenkov, quoted by the BelTA agency.
He noted that Minsk, “being forced to rebuild its logistics, trade routes, economic and foreign policy relations at the beginning”, found “very strong, reliable and proven friends, with whom it can further develop the entire range of relations and develop in independently.”
The minister stressed that China is Belarus’ most important partner in Asia.
“Today, trade with China is comparable to trade with the entire European Union,” he said. — Traditionally, good ties with India, Pakistan, Iran and the Gulf States. Not to mention the fact that we are traditionally very well represented in Central Asia.”
Ryzhenkov recalled that in the near future the president of the country Alexander Lukashenko will participate in the BRICS summit in Kazan, a high-level visit to Pakistan is planned and regular meetings are held with the leader of the People’s Republic of China. According to him, in 2025, given China’s presidency of the SCO, there will also be a good reason for a visit. Several visits to Asian countries at the level of prime ministers are also expected, TASS quotes.
