BEIJING, March 1. /TASS/. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and China’s President Xi Jinping have adopted a joint statement on the basic principles for developing an exemplary relationship of all-weather and all-around strategic partnership between the two countries in a new era, the BelTA news agency reported on Wednesday following the two leaders’ talks in Beijing.

According to the agency, Lukashenko and Xi Jinping met both one-on-one and with the participation of their delegations, and the talks lasted much longer than planned.

In the presence of the two presidents, a large package of agreements on cooperation in a wide range of areas was also signed. Among them are a memorandum of understanding between the Belarusian Foreign Ministry and the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) on cooperation in enhancing and promoting the Global Development Initiative, and the program of Belarusian-Chinese scientific and technical cooperation for 2023-2024. The 2023 plan for the Year of Regions was approved.

An agreement and a memorandum on cooperation in the tourism and sports fields were signed by corresponding agencies. Memorandums of understanding on cooperation between the Belarusian State Control Committee and the Chinese National Audit Office were also inked, as well as memorandums of mutual understanding between the Belarusian Architecture and Construction Ministry and the Chinese Housing and Urban-Rural Development Ministry.

Additionally, agreements on cooperation were concluded between the BelTA and Xinhua news agencies, as well as Belarus’ National State TV and Radio Company and the China Media Group. A memorandum of understanding on implementing projects of cooperation by using the Chinese government’s preferential loans and an agreement on strengthening trade and economic collaboration between the two countries’ regions were also signed. An intergovernmental agreement in the form of an exchange of letters was also adopted to endorse the project for import of screening equipment for Minsk National Airport.

A comprehensive strategy for joint industrial growth was approved. A memorandum on sanitary and phytosanitary requirements for exports of products to China and a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in agriculture were inked. Among the other agreements is a plan on cooperation in healthcare for 2023-2025.

Lukashenko is paying a state visit to China from February 28 through March 2.