MINSK, 25 August (BelTA) - Belarus is open for international cooperation and promotion of socially and economically significant initiatives, Economy Minister Aleksandr Chervyakov said as he made an online address to the participants of the opening ceremony of the China-Eurasia Expo in Urumqi (China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region), BelTA learned from the press service of the Economy Ministry.
This year Belarus is the guest of honor at the exhibition. “China is our most important strategic partner. This year we celebrate five years since the leaders of our states established the highest level of mutual relations in the history of Belarusian-Chinese cooperation - a trust-based comprehensive strategic partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation. Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Our trade and economic cooperation is showing progressive growth and momentum. China is one of the three largest trade partners of Belarus: in 2020 the mutual trade amounted to a record high $4.6 billion, up 60% compared to 2011,” Aleksandr Chervyakov said.
Despite the pandemic, Belarusian exports of goods and services to China continue to grow. Last year it exceeded $1.2 billion. In H1 2021 the figure was up 21% from the same stretch in 2020 to total $624 million.
According to the minister, more than a hundred of Belarusian enterprises are accredited to work in the Chinese market. The governments of the two countries are aimed at removing trade barriers and restrictions. Active work in underway to develop a free trade zone for services and investments with China.
Aleksandr Chervyakov emphasized the role of the Great Stone Industrial Park as a center of attraction for Chinese and international investments: “Some $700 million has already been invested in the project. A total of 73 residents from 13 countries have been registered, with over a billion US dollars in total declared investments. The new decree creates the best legal conditions for doing business compared to other EAEU and EU economic zones. The industrial park represents huge prospects and opportunities for business development on the Belt and Road platform, including a multimodal railway terminal which is under construction in the park.
At the end of his speech, the minister invited the participants of the event to establish and expand trade cooperation with Belarus, implement high-tech projects in such promising industries as healthcare and pharmaceuticals, mechanical engineering, electronics, logistics, ICT and energy.
