On July 4, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) welcomed Belarus as its 10th member during the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State in Astana, Kazakhstan. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko highlighted the SCO's growing influence, describing it as one of the most authoritative international organizations today. He emphasized the organization's unique potential and noted the increasing interest from other nations to join.
To gauge public sentiment, a CGTN Stringer visited the streets of Belarus to capture the local population's views on China and their aspirations for future collaboration within the SCO framework. Many Belarusians expressed positive impressions of China and optimism about enhanced cooperation in areas such as trade, economic development, science, education, culture, and security, particularly in combating terrorism.
Yuri Senko, the former ambassador of Belarus to China, echoed this optimism. He believes that SCO membership will unlock numerous opportunities for Belarus, fostering stronger trade relations, economic partnerships, scientific exchanges, educational collaborations, cultural initiatives, and coordinated security efforts.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
