Today China receives the Belarusian ruler Lukashenko to deepen cooperation.
So far, both have stuck to Putin's friendship.
Beijing – China and Belarus are becoming increasingly important for Russia in the Ukraine war.
China's relationship with Russia is viewed with great skepticism.
The close partnership between Belarus and Russia is also a concern for the West, as both states have apparently negotiated joint military plans.
The now announced visit of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to China raises further concerns.
This is reported by kreiszeitung.de.
Putin ally Lukashenko is visiting China today – significance for the Ukraine war
"Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will be on a state visit to China from February 28 to March 2 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.
China is willing to work with Belarus to deepen mutual political trust, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
According to media reports, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang confirmed this on Friday in a telephone conversation with his Belarusian colleague Sergei Aleinik.
No further details about the meeting have been given so far.
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Could ruler Lukashenko join the Ukraine war?
In the past, Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin and Putin ally Lukashenko have emphasized their close partnership.
Since the beginning of the war, there had been repeated discussions about whether Lukashenko's troops could also fight alongside Moscow.
Lukashenko himself had rejected speculation about joining the war, but Belarus has held many maneuvers on its southern border in recent months, which have fueled concerns about Belarusian entry.
However, it has become quiet this week, the units are back in the barracks, estimate military experts.
If Belarus were to mobilize or if Russia were to move more troops there, the West would see both.
Belarus borders Ukraine to the south and plays an important role for Russia in its war against Ukraine.
For example, Russian troops used Belarusian territory as a deployment area at the start of the war a year ago.
China is also becoming increasingly important for Russia – questionable mediator role
China is also becoming increasingly important for Putin in the Ukraine war.
The People's Republic has not yet condemned the Russian war of aggression.
China's efforts to become more involved with its 12-point plan for a ceasefire and peace negotiations are therefore viewed with skepticism.
Recently, the West even warned of possible arms deliveries from Beijing to Russia.
According to
Spiegel
information, Beijing and Moscow are already negotiating the purchase of 100 drones, which could be delivered by April.
"The concern we have now is based on information we have that China is considering supplying weapons," Blinken told CBS.
Already last year there were plans in China to support the Russian military much more tangibly than previously known.
(
bohy
)