President Xi Jinping praised Belarus as a true friend of China as he met visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Beijing on Wednesday.

Xi said the two countries are true friends and good partners, treating each other with sincerity and trust.

He called on both sides to further enhance coordination and cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, jointly oppose hegemony and bullying, and safeguard international fairness and justice.

Noting China and Belarus share enduring traditional friendship, formidable political mutual trust and growing cooperation in all fields, the president said China has always viewed and developed bilateral relations from a strategic and a long-term perspective.

Xi again congratulated Lukashenko on his re-election as the president of Belarus, and said China is willing to work with Belarus to promote the steady development of bilateral ties and win-win cooperation.

Lukashenko, who is on his 15th visit to China, said Beijing sets an example for the world by upholding multilateralism and opposing unilateralism and sanctions and pressure, expressing admiration for the country and willingness to work with China to safeguard international fairness and justice.

This is his first visit to Beijing since he was declared the winner of January's presidential election. (Xinhua and agencies)