MINSK, 2 October (BelTA) – China's technical and economic aid will be used to build 16 public welfare homes in Belarus. The information was revealed after a meeting of representatives of the Belarusian Architecture and Construction Ministry and the relevant agency of the Chinese government, the Ministry's press service told BelTA.
The project to build public welfare homes is envisaged by the memorandum on ways to use China's technical and economic aid that has been signed by the Belarusian Economy Ministry and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. As many as 16 municipal houses will be built. The construction sites are prepared in Brest Oblast, Vitebsk Oblast, Gomel Oblast, Grodno Oblast, and Mogilev Oblast. The design documents and cost estimates are being evaluated by Chinese experts.
During the meeting Belarusian First Deputy Architecture and Construction Minister Alexander Kruchanov thanked the Chinese side for taking part in Belarus' social security programs. “In line with the agreement the two heads of state reached in May 2015 China will provide technical and economic aid to Belarus for building public welfare homes. We have already done some work on the project. We know Chinese colleagues as reliable business partners. The fact adds confidence in the success of the project,” said the official.
During the meeting information about the readiness of the construction sites for implementing the project was presented. The Belarusian side is expected to allocate the lands, provide engineering communications and infrastructure for future residents. The preparations were reflected by the reports.
The Chinese specialists were satisfied with the reports and, in turn, answered questions concerning customers of the future construction project, the choice of contractors, the participation of Belarusian civil engineering companies in the project, subcontracting and other matters.
The sides agreed to work out an effective interaction model in a routine manner. Money is expected to be available as from 1 April 2016. The total sum for building the framework project, including construction work, purchase of construction equipment and its commissioning, and so on, is limited to 700 million yuans (about $110 million).
According to the source, the public welfare homes to be built using Chinese aid will be owned by the state (municipal administrations). They will not be subject to sale or lease or inheritance.
