MINSK, 6 August (BelTA) - China will allocate $235 million for the projects to build the national football stadium and the world-class swimming pool in Minsk, Belarus Economy Minister Dmitry Krutoi told the media BelTA has learned.
China has reserved $235 million for these two sports facilities, Dmitry Krutoi said. “China believes that these objects will represent it in Europe, so they are very serious about these projects. These will be really significant sports facilities which will have very few analogues in our region,” the minister noted.
According to the minister, China began to provide technical assistance to Belarus in 2007. Eight projects worth nearly $130 million have been implemented for 12 years. “Today $95 million is being utilized. In other words, for 12 years we have received $225 million worth of Chinese technical assistance. To understand the scale of the upcoming two projects: the amount is almost identical to the one we have used for 12 years. Cumulatively this is half a billion of U.S. dollars,” the minister said.
Chinese technical assistance for Belarus will not end with the construction of the football stadium and the swimming pool. China has already planned financial support worth about $100 million.
“Last year China changed the internal policy with respect to technical assistance. A special government agency was set up. It reports directly to the State Council and interacts with countries such as ours within the framework of intergovernmental agreements. Just the other day we received a memorandum which clearly defines the priorities for our country. In addition to these sports facilities China will provide technical assistance to the Great Stone industrial park, the customs and border committees, the third phase of the social housing construction program in Belarus and other areas,” Dmitry Krutoi said.
