Hu Jintao Arrives in ByelorussiaChinese Vice-President Hu Jintao arrived Byelorussia Tuesday night for an official visit to the nation at the invitation of Byelorussian President Alexander Lukashenko.This is the fourth leg of Hu's five-nation tour. In the past 10 days, the Chinese vice-president paid official visits to Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia. Kazakhstan will be the last leg of his half-month tour to be ended on July 30. At the Minsk Airport Two, Hu was warmly welcomed by Prime Minister Vladimir Yermoshin and other high-ranking Byelorussian officials. Hu said in a written statement at the airport that China and Byelorussia enjoy a deep and traditional friendship. "Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Byelorussia in 1992, the two countries have steadily been expanding exchanges and cooperation in the political, economic, scientific and cultural fields as well as in the international arena, and gained fruitful results,"Hu noted. In the new century, the Chinese vice-president pointed out, China and Byelorussia face the similar opportunities and challenges. Describing it as the two countries' common goal to deepen bilateral friendship and expand cooperation, Hu expressed his willingness to push the Sino-Byelorussian friendly and cooperative ties to a new high. During his current visit, Hu is expected to discuss with Byelorussian leaders issues of bilateral relations and of mutual concern. |
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