A military cooperation agreement was been signed during the week-long visit. To date, most Chinese military aid to Belarus has been to supply light trucks, medical equipment and computers. Ravkov's visit follows the May 10-12 visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Belarus, following his attendance at the Moscow VE Day commemorations. Xi held discussions with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenka during which deals totalling 15.7 billion dollars were signed. However, for China, the greatest significance of Xi's visit was the strengthening of ties with regards to the formulation of China's Silk Road strategy.
In the long term, Russia and China will compete to buy such strategic Belarusian assets as high-tech defence firms.
Foreign Minister Uladzamir Makei's attendance at the Riga EU summit in Lukashenka's absence will reinforce Makei's succession credentials.
The EEU is likely to coordinate policies towards China, regulating volumes of Chinese imports to the Eurasian trading bloc.
