MINSK, 1 February (BelTA) – The trade and economic relations between Belarus and China remained dynamic even during the difficult year 2020, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to China Yuri Senko said on the air of the STV TV channel on 31 January, BelTA has learned.
“So far, 105 Belarusian companies have been accredited on the Chinese market. In 2020, another 12 enterprises were give a green light to export to the Chinese market. Against the backdrop of the general economic slowdown globally, Belarus and China kept their economic relations dynamic and even posted a surplus,” Ambassador Yuri Senko noted.
The Belarusian meat and dairy industry was one of the biggest contributors to this, as products of this industry are in high demand among Chinese consumers, the ambassador noted. Thanks to the newly accredited Belarusian companies, Belarus will be able to increase meat and dairy exports in the near future, Yuri Senko added. Belarus has also added sugar, ice cream, and beer to its exports to China.
Belarusian companies, which entered the Chinese market prior to 2020, reported growing exports last year. For example, poultry supplies rose fourfold and milk whey export went up 2.2 times. According to Ambassador Yuri Senko, Belarus also built up supplies of woodworking products, potash fertilizers, and other goods.
“In 2014, 40,000 containers transited Belarus along the China-Europe route (bound for Belarus and other countries). In 2020, there were already 540,000 containers,” Yuri Senko said.
Thanks to China's financial assistance, Belarus has launched or already completed more than 30 large-scale projects worth a total of over $8 billion. Plans are in place to look into several other important projects: renovation of a substation in the city of Stolbtsy and construction of the third facility to produce vitamins, amino acids, and products from starch in Pukhovichi.
“Belarus and China have maintained close bilateral contacts and air communication, primarily flights that transport specialists and engineers working on the ongoing projects in the two countries. Thanks to this, we did not put our economic projects on hold and have forged ahead with them,” Yuri Senko added.
