China-Belarus ties at historic peak as Xi Jinping welcomes Lukashenko

Xi Jinping hosted Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Beijing on June 29.

• It was Lukashenko's 17th visit to China across his more than 30 years in power.

ICYDK: Belarus has faced sweeping Western sanctions since 2020 – first over Lukashenko's widely disputed re-election, and later over Minsk's military support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

• Beijing kept Minsk close throughout, framing the relationship as a model “all-weather” partnership.

Xi described the bilateral relationship in maximalist terms (Gov.cn):

• "China and Belarus are true friends...and all-weather comprehensive strategic partners."
• "China-Belarus relations...have entered their best period in history. Mutual political trust between the two sides is rock solid."

Lukashenko echoed that sentiment, later posting that the relationship has reached a "historic peak" (Reuters).

Not in the readout: Ukraine – where tensions are mounting after Kyiv accused Minsk of operating signal relay stations that help Russian drones with targeting.

• Beijing has repeatedly called for an end to the war in Ukraine but stopped short of hard measures to force Moscow or Minsk out of the ongoing conflict.

Get smart: Belarus' modest GDP and relative diplomatic isolation mean this relationship isn't much of a prize on its own.

• Still, Beijing will take all the help it can get as it builds an alternative global governance bloc to challenge the West.