Belarusian president's visit set to cement ties

Ukraine crisis, post-COVID economic cooperation expected to top agenda

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is due to start his three-day state visit to China on Tuesday, with expectations high that cooperation between the two countries on post-pandemic economic recovery and the Russia-Ukraine conflict will top the agenda of talks.

The visit comes as China works toward economic recovery after the country's top leadership announced a "major, decisive victory" in the fight against COVID-19 on Feb 16. It also takes place at a time of increased tensions between the West and Russia and the West and Belarus over the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

China and Belarus agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership, following a meeting between President Xi Jinping and Lukashenko on the sidelines of the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Sept 15.