BEIJING, December 4. /TASS/. The Chinese authorities are against external interference in the internal political situation in Belarus, Chinese President Xi Jinping said at a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.

"The People's Republic of China has always viewed China-Belarus relations from a strategic and long-term perspective. We firmly support Belarus in choosing the path of development in accordance with its national characteristics, and oppose the interference of external forces in its internal affairs," China Central Television quoted Xi as saying.

According to the Chinese president, Beijing is ready to strengthen strategic cooperation with Minsk, "to provide mutual support, promote pragmatic cooperation and further deepen China-Belarus relations."

Xi Jinping recalled that Lukashenko paid a successful state visit to China in late February. "We reached an important consensus on pushing forward the development of high-level bilateral relations," the Chinese leader said. "Over the past year, political trust between our two countries has been strengthened, and our international cooperation has become closer," he concluded.