Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko offered a personal glimpse into his family's ties with China, spotlighting his son Nikolai’s years of study and cultural immersion.
In an interview with China Media Group (CMG), Lukashenko praised China’s “excellent” education system and shared heartfelt anecdotes about Nikolai’s journey to master the Chinese language, a journey that began when he was just four years old, accompanying his father on frequent visits to China.
Nikolai Lukashenko studied in China for several years. He has joined his father on multiple visits to China, including a military parade in Beijing in 2015.
"China was never unfamiliar to him. From the age of about four, he often traveled to China with me. So for him, studying in China was not something entirely new. But as an adult, he was able to look more deeply into the Chinese society and appreciate the cultural differences between our two countries. He told me that China is strong and prosperous across all fields. China's education system is excellent," said the Belarusian president.
"He is now learning Chinese, though I can see that it is difficult for him. President Xi once said that when learning Chinese, one should not be afraid. At first, I thought, why would anyone be afraid? But when I watched my son learning, I understood. Just look at Chinese characters, they can seem daunting in their complexity. Still, the key to learning a language is not to be intimidated. In the past decade, many young people have started learning Chinese, and their command of the Chinese language is quite good," said Lukashenko.
Belarusian president praises China's education system, reflects on son’s cultural journey
