MINSK, 21 June (BelTA) – Minsk-China trade increased by 50% in Q1 2017 in comparison with the same period last year, Chairman of the Economy Committee of the Minsk City Hall Nikolai Rogashchuk told the media on 21 June, BelTA has learned.
The trade between Minsk and China totaled $1.1 billion in 2016. The growth in Q1 2017 made up 50%. “We are currently discussing supplies of different goods and products, including bread and microelectronic circuits,” noted Nikolai Rogashchuk.
Minsk is hosting the Minsk-Beijing business forum and a business matchmaking session between Belarusian and Chinese companies. Attending the event on China's behalf are representatives of 19 companies interested in establishing and expanding business ties with Belarusian companies in the areas of energy, food industry, agriculture, medicine.
“Belarusian companies are ready to develop cooperation in the industry, tourism, culture and other areas. We are open for investment and will be discussing the implementation of concrete projects. We will be talking over all the projects that Chinese partners are ready to offer,” the chairman stressed. He named the construction of the Beijing Hotel and the residential compound Lebyazhy among joint projects.
The development of relations with China is one of the priorities of Belarus' foreign policy. In January-February 2017 the trade between Belarus and China Mainland exceeded $430 million, an increase of 31% from the same period of last year. Cooperation in the investment field is a promising area for the strengthening of the bilateral cooperation. At present Belarus is implementing more than 30 investment projects financed with the help of Chinese loans to the total amount of almost $6 billion.
