SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan -- President Xi Jinping on Thursday afternoon met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at Forumlar Majmuasi Complex in Samarkand.

The two presidents decided to upgrade the bilateral relationship to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi underscored that since China and Belarus established diplomatic relations 30 years ago, the relations between the two countries have been continuously strengthened and upgraded, with solid progress in all-round cooperation.

The upgrading of China-Belarus relations to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership is a historic leap in bilateral relations, Xi said.

China is ready to work with Belarus to increase mutual political support, unleash the potential of cooperation in various fields, promote greater progress in China-Belarus relations and deliver more benefits to the two peoples, he added.

Xi stressed that China highly commends the firm support Belarus has always given China on issues concerning China's core interests. China firmly supports Belarus in taking a development path suited to its national conditions and opposes external forces' interference in Belarus' domestic affairs under any pretext.

China is ready to work with Belarus to promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative, and safeguard international fairness and justice, Xi said.