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China supports fast-track accession of Belarus into SCO, leaders say in statement

Belarus and China "strongly condemn any alternative international rules, regulations and mechanisms that undermine the fundamental provisions of the UN Charter"

BEIJING, March 1. /TASS/. China supports a fast-track accession of Belarus into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the leaders of the two countries, Alexander Lukashenko and Xi Jinping said in a joint statement following their talks in Beijing on Wednesday.

"China supports a fast-track accession of Belarus into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a full member," the BelTA news agency said, citing the statement On Further Development of Exemplary Relations of All-Weather Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Between the Two Countries in a New Era.

It was stated that the countries will continue to engage in comprehensive cooperation as part of such multilateral organizations as the SCO and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia.

Belarus and China "strongly condemn any alternative international rules, regulations and mechanisms that undermine the fundamental provisions of the UN Charter."

The statement also said that Belarus supports the shared values of peace, development, equality, justice, democracy and freedom that were proposed by China to all humankind.

Lukashenko is in China on a state visit from February 28 to March 2.

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