China's top legislator Li Peng and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko agreed during their talks here Thursday that the two sides will make joint efforts to push forward bilateral relations.

Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC), who is on an official visit to Belarus, said that there are great potentials of cooperation between China and Belarus as they are "good friends" and "good partners."

President Lukashenko, who had just returned from the millennium summit conference at the United Nations, said Li's visit is of great significance to the development of relations between Belarus and China.

The president called Li a respected "old friend" of the Belarus people, saying China and Belarus have treated each other with sincerity, and that China is a "trustworthy" friend of Belarus.

Li last visited Belarus in 1995. He and Lukashenko had an extensive exchange of views on the development of bilateral political relations and economic and trade cooperation.

Li Peng said China attaches great importance to its relations with Belarus, and that China is satisfied with the growth of bilateral ties. He added that he is also glad to see the growing trade relations between the two countries.

Lukashenko briefed Li Peng on the events at the millennium summit conference in New York. He said he had listened carefully to President Jiang Zemin's speech and found that Belarus share common views with China on many international issues.

In addition, both Li and Lukashenko said they share same or similar views on multi-polarization of the world, the economic globalization and the building of a new international order as well as on human rights, anti-hegemonism and non-interference into other nation's internal affairs.

Li ended his visit to Belarus after the talks. He then traveled to Tallinn, capital of Estonia, for the next leg of his journey.

(People’s Daily 09/07/2000)