UPDATE - Belarusian, Chinese ideas on prospective world order ‘absolutely coincide’: Lukashenko

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY LUKASHENKO, STATEMENT FROM CHINA; CHANGES HEADLINE, LEDE

By Burc Eruygur and Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko Thursday said that the ideas of China and his country on a prospective world order “absolutely coincide.”

“The main ideas of the present and the future – the prospective world order of the People's Republic of China and Belarus – absolutely coincide. We have been demonstrating this with you over the past three decades,” Lukashenko said during a meeting with visiting Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu in the capital Minsk.

According to a statement by the presidency, Lukashenko said his country’s policy is based on a “strong economy and powerful diplomacy.”

“Unfortunately, through no fault of ours, the world today is completely unstable. Very powerful turbulent events are taking place in the world. And we have to be strong. Because it so happens that strength is always respected,” Lukashenko said.

He also thanked Li for China's military cooperation, for which he said Minsk primarily relies on Beijing and Moscow.

“We are for non-interference in the internal affairs of states," Lukashenko said, expressing that Belarus has supported China for more than 30 years due to Beijing’s "absolutely fair" domestic and foreign policy, which is “aimed at the peaceful resolution of all disputes and conflicts.”

He asserted that their cooperation is not directed against any third country, underlining the need to “secure our states and our peoples.”

Meanwhile, Li said China and Belarus share "highly consistent" foreign policies.

"Both sides are staunch defenders of international fairness and justice and a multipolar world," Li said, according to a transcript of the meeting released by China's Defense Ministry.

Li added that the relationship between the Belarusian and Chinese militaries "is developing well, and it is hoped that the two sides will work together and play a constructive role in maintaining the security of the two countries and regional stability."

Belarus is an ally of Russia, which began a "special military operation" in Ukraine last year. Since then, the West has imposed unprecedented sanctions on both countries.

China, on the contrary, opposes "unilateral sanctions" and has not condemned the war. It has called for a peaceful resolution of the conflict and also proposed a 12-point peace plan earlier this year.