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full screen Chinese Premier Li Qiang, here at a meeting in Moscow on Wednesday. Photo: Dmitry Astakhov/Sputnik/Kremlin/Poolfoto Via AP/TT
China strengthens ties to Belarus. Premier Li Qiang is visiting the Russian-allied and EU-neighboring dictatorship and is set to sign a trade agreement.
Li met with Belarusian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko on Thursday. The Chinese met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier this week and spoke of the countries’ “historically” strong ties.
Sanctioned Belarus must increase its exports to China and China must invest more in Belarus, according to a statement from the regime in Minsk. Lukashenko expresses hope for a “large influx of Chinese technology”.
Both countries are accused of enabling and supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in different ways. Aleksandr Lukashenko has also become increasingly isolated and dependent on Russia since he received Russian help to put down large popular protests that broke out after a rigged presidential election in the summer of 2020.