China vowed to expand pragmatic cooperation with Belarus in various areas, including the fight against COVID-19 to lift the bilateral ties to a higher level, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in a phone call on Tuesday.

President Xi began the call by hailing China's relationship with Belarus. Noting 2021 is the first year for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), he said the new development pattern would bring all countries, including Belarus, more opportunities as well as more space for development.

The Chinese president called on the two countries to work jointly under the framework of the "Belt and Road Initiative" and make solid progress in the construction of China-Belarus industrial park.

He hopes that China and Belarus could conduct more cooperation in areas such as COVID-19 prevention, trade, education, technology and culture.

Xi said he believed that as long as the two sides worked together under the principle of mutual trust and win-win cooperation, the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Belarus would yield more fruitful results in the future. He also stressed that China remains committed to Belarus regarding its development strategy.

China hopes the political and social situation in Belarus will remain stable, noted Xi, assuring his counterpart that China is ready to provide necessary assistance for the country's economic and social development.

The president also expressed hope that the two sides could continue supporting each other and defend international justice and the common interests of developing countries under joint efforts.

For his part, Lukashenko expressed his admiration and warm congratulations to China on remarkable and significant achievements in battling the pandemic, resumption of work and production, poverty alleviation and lunar exploration projects, saying that he appreciates China for providing invaluable support for his country's fight against the pandemic as well as its economic and social development. 

Noting that Belarus and China are comprehensive strategic partners, he said Belarus firmly stands with China on issues involving China's core interests with regards to Hong Kong, Taiwan and Xinjiang and firmly opposes all external interference. 

He also said that his country is willing to join China in actively promoting bilateral Belt and Road cooperation and the construction of the Belarus-China industrial park, and strengthening cooperation in various fields such as economy, trade and exchanges at local levels, and he wished the Chinese people a happy New Year, prosperity and health.

(With input from Xinhua)