Belarusian president signs directive on strategic partnership with China

MINSK. May 12 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has signed a directive on the practical fulfillment of the all-weather, comprehensive strategic partnership between Belarus and China, the First Man's Pool Telegram channel close to the president's press service said.

The document is an updated version of a previous directive, concerning the development of Belarus-China relations, which extends its clauses and adds the next stage: concrete plans and tasks to boost cooperation over the next five years.

"The bilateral interaction is directed at strengthening the political cooperation, preserving historical memory and augmenting the values of friendship and mutual assistance, and participating for the benefit of Belarus in implementing China's global initiatives," the statement said.

Priorities of the economic cooperation with China include enhancing the industrial and technological cooperation and the development of trade, investment and innovation, it said.

In addition, the directive contains about 30 provisions stipulating the implementation of specific measures in agriculture, the energy sector, transport and logistics, healthcare, information and communications technologies, woodworking, oil and gas, the light industry, tourism, education, science, culture, the development of the Great Stone Industrial Park flagship project, and the intensification of inter-regional cooperation.