China is Belarus' reliable friend and the bilateral cooperation has a very bright prospect, Belarussian lower house speaker Vadim Popov said in Minsk on Friday.
Setting a high value on its ties with China, Belarus understands and appreciates China's independent and peaceful foreign policy, is grateful to China for its persistent support in international arena, said Popov, head of the House of Representatives, at a meeting with visiting Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.
According to reports reaching Moscow from Minsk, Popov said that the Belarussian parliament attaches great importance to the contacts with the Chinese legislature. In order to enhance the development of the two countries' ties, the lower chamber set up a special working group in charge of relations with China.
He stressed that both countries share common views on a lot of important international and regional issues. The bilateral relationship is established on a solid foundation and has broad prospects.
Li, for his part, said that the common view of the two countries' heads on developing bilateral friendly relations of comprehensive cooperation conforms to the fundamental norms of the two peoples and helps to consolidate regional peace and stability.
China is ready to make joint efforts with Belarus to further strengthen the friendly ties, in order to bring the two peoples more practical benefits, stated the Chinese deputy foreign minister.
( March 3, 2002)
