MINSK, 17 August (BelTA) – A Chinese international trade city may be set up in the village of Bolbasovo, Orsha District. The project was discussed during a meeting between Deputy Head of the Belarus President Administration Nikolai Snopkov and a Chinese delegation led by First Deputy Chairman of the People's Government of Yiwu, Zhejiang Province Chen Xiaozhong on 17 August, BelTA has learned.
A memorandum of cooperation between Orsha District and China's Yiwu and a protocol of intent between Bremino Group and Zhejiang China Commodities City Group Co. Ltd were signed at the meeting.
Director of Bremino Group Vasily Dementei told BelTA that the Chinese delegation visited the multi-modal industrial and logistics complex Bremino Orsha, which is being built in Bolbasovo. The complex will contribute to the development of the Belarusian logistics system in order to secure optimal cargo flows, processing and transportation of goods from producers to customers to the markets of the EU and the EAEU.
There are plans to set up the Chinese international trade city of mass-market products for wholesalers in Bolbasovo. “As the sales grow, the production of popular goods might be relocated from China to Belarus,” the head of the Belarusian company said. “Belarus will become the second European country where Zhejian will undertake a similar project. The first one was implemented near Warsaw in 2016,” he added.
According to him, the joint project will help to concentrate trade flows in Belarus which are now divided between Poland, Lithuania and Russia. Chairman of the Orsha District Executive Committee Alexander Poznyak believes that this project will contribute to the Belt and Road concept. During the talks the parties agreed to set up a working group to develop a plan for phased implementation of the project.
The visit of the Chinese delegation is a return one. In April this year Nikolai Snopkov visited the Chinese city of Yiwu and met with Secretary of the Party Committee Sheng Qiuping. During the negotiations, an agreement was reached to implement major joint economic projects.
Yiwu is located in the southeast of China. It is home to the world's largest indoor wholesale market “Yiwu International Trade City.” Without leaving the shopping compound, the buyer can choose the product he needs from a huge assortment, make a wholesale deal and arrange shipment to any destination. The ultramodern complex Futian covers the area of 2.6 million square meters. About 58,000 trade booths are located on five floors. The length of the building is approximately 4km. All products are made in China.
