June 24, Pozirk. Belarusian Defense Minister Viktar Chrenin has arrived in China to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) defense ministers’ meeting in Qingdao on June 26, the defense ministry’s press office reported.
Belarusian envoy Alaksandar Čarviakoŭ and Chinese military officials met Chrenin in Beijing upon arrival.
The SCO defense ministers’ meeting will be held amid tensions in the Middle East following US strikes on Iran, an SCO member since 2023.
Minsk joined the China-led bloc one year ago. Established in 2001, it also comprises India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Belarusian officials vowed to expand ties with China following Alaksandar Łukašenka’s meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing earlier this month. Shortly after returning to Minsk, the Belarusian ruler unveiled a national soccer stadium built with Chinese funding.
