Chinese President Xi Jinping, during a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, expressed confidence that relations between Beijing and Minsk will develop rapidly.

Xi and Lukashenko met on Thursday in Astana on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.

“I am convinced that thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, relations between China and Belarus will continue to develop healthy and rapidly,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry quoted Xi as saying.

The Chinese leader noted that Lukashenko visited China twice in 2023, and together, they developed a new plan to enhance the China-Belarus comprehensive strategic partnership.

“Since the beginning of this year, there has been close interaction between the two countries at all levels, and the consensus we reached has been effectively implemented,” he said.

Xi also congratulated Belarus on joining the SCO as a member state.

Belarus officially joins SCO

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced on Thursday that Belarus has been formally admitted as a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) during the summit in Astana.
 
"Dear heads of state, the decision on the full membership of the Republic of Belarus in the SCO has been made," Tokayev said and congratulated Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on the occasion.

Tokayev noted that Belarus has swiftly fulfilled all requirements for full participation in the SCO.

Established in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan to combat terrorism and bolster border security, the SCO has grown in recent years. This expansion is in line with Beijing and Moscow's mutual objective of countering perceived US hegemony and reconfiguring the international system.
 
Elsewhere in his remarks, Tokayev remarked that the member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) have transformed it into one of the most influential and respected global entities.