Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense, Li Shangfu, visited Belarus, meeting with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to discuss military cooperation and broader strategic ties between the two nations. Both leaders emphasized their shared vision of a multipolar world order and commitment to non-interference in the internal affairs of states. The visit is seen as strategically significant in offsetting the world’s imbalanced strategic pattern, which the US-led West is attempting to establish for its own benefit.
Li’s visit comes after his participation in the 11th Moscow Conference on International Security in Russia. The visit marks the first high-level engagement in China-Belarus military cooperation in the past five years, with discussions aimed at outlining future areas of collaboration and exchanging views on international and regional security.
Belarusian President Lukashenko praised China’s foreign policy, highlighting their mutual support for territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs. Li expressed President Xi Jinping’s warm greetings and underlined the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
Chinese experts view the strengthening of military cooperation between China and Belarus as essential in maintaining global strategic stability, especially in light of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and potential further deterioration in major power relations. The visit demonstrates political support for Belarus, which has been under increasing internal and external pressure.
The military cooperation between China and Belarus is multifaceted, involving exchanges of military personnel, mutual exchange of weapons, and potential collaboration in military doctrines and strategic theories. Experts suggest that Belarus could further import defensive weapons and equipment from China, expanding on their previous cooperation in military equipment.
This visit also aligns with Belarus’ aspiration to become a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the BRICS mechanism, indicating its desire to strengthen cooperation with like-minded countries and contribute to maintaining a multipolar world and the multilateral system.