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BELARUS-CHINA-POLITICS
Chinese troops join Belarus military parade as ties grow
MINSK, July 3, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Chinese troops on Tuesday took part in a
military parade marking Independence Day in Belarus as the country’s
authoritarian leader seeks closer ties with Beijing to counterbalance
Russia’s influence.
For the first time, Chinese troops participated in an Independence Day
parade in the capital alongside servicemen from Belarus and Russia, with
military hardware including a multiple launch rocket system also on display.
President Alexander Lukashenko has designated July 3 to mark the day that
the Red Army liberated the capital Minsk from Nazi troops during World War
II.
While mentioning tight relations with Russia, Lukashenko — often referred
to as “Europe’s last dictator” — also said his country was “expanding
cooperation with the People’s Republic of China — our strategic partner.”
“While paying tribute to the events of World War II, we remember that it
began in the west and ended far in the east. It’s rather symbolic that today
descendants of victorious soldiers are taking part in a parade together,”
Lukashenko added.
Lukashenko whose country is hugely dependent on economic aid from former
Soviet master is forced to perform a delicate balancing act as he seeks
closer ties with China and the West in the hope of winning more investment to
overhaul the struggling economy.
Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 has sent shockwaves across Belarus
where Russian is widely spoken and which has a sizeable Russian community.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said “integration processes” involving
Belarus were a top priority for Moscow.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1632 hrs