GOMEL, 17 September (BelTA) - Prospects for developing cooperation between Gomel Oblast and Changchun City of Jilin Province of China were discussed during a meeting with a delegation from China in Gomel, BelTA learned.
Governor of Gomel Oblast Ivan Krupko stressed that the visit of the delegation serves as confirmation of the burgeoning friendship between the regions and their mutual commitment to developing fruitful cooperation. The partners were presented with the potential of the Belarusian region and its capabilities across various industries and sectors.
“Gomel Oblast highly values its friendship with the People's Republic of China,” Ivan Krupko noted. He stated that the development of interregional relations forms the basis for mutually beneficial trade, economic, and investment partnerships. Today, Gomel Oblast is connected with regions of China by five agreements on establishing sister-city relations. We are open to cooperation and place great importance on our partnership with China, development of mutual trade in goods and services. Over the past five years, trade turnover between Gomel Oblast and China has more than doubled," the head of the region noted.
According to him, major exports to China are wood pulp, meat, dairy, confectionery, and alcoholic products.
“Gomel Oblast is keen on developing cooperation with Changchun City and Jilin Province, and on increasing mutual supplies of high-quality goods. Currently, 20 enterprises in Gomel Oblast are certified to supply food products to China," Ivan Krupko added.
He emphasized that there are promising prospects for further trade and investment cooperation with Jilin Province in several areas. Firstly, this includes the supply of food products from Gomel producers to Jilin: beef, poultry meat and edible by-products, whole milk products, condensed and dried milk and cream, dried dairy whey, milk-based candies, confectionery and alcoholic products, as well as wood processing goods and mineral fertilizers. Secondly, this is industrial projects in Gomel Oblast, utilizing the preferences of the Gomel-Raton free economic zone. “Thirdly, this is investment projects in agriculture: the construction of dairy farms with subsequent processing and supply of finished products to China,” Ivan Krupko said, outlining promising areas for cooperation.
He expressed confidence that the current visit of the Chinese delegation would open up new prospects for cooperation and the implementation of joint projects and would contribute to the prosperity of the two regions.
In turn, Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the Changchun Municipal People’s Government Zhang Yong called the August visit of the Gomel delegation to the Chinese province a window of future friendship and cooperation. He also admitted that he was impressed both by Belarus in general and by the Gomel land in particular. “I was very impressed by the enterprises, by their order, management, and good facilities,” Zhang Yong added.
“Besides the economy, we can talk about a wide range of topics: culture, sports, medicine, student exchange,” he is convinced.
The head of the delegation pointed out that there are already examples of close cooperation between enterprises of the two regions. “But this is only the beginning,” he believes.
Zhang Yong also emphasized the importance of developing interregional cooperation, both between cities, and between Gomel Oblast and Jilin Province as a whole.
The program of the Chinese delegation’s visit to Gomel Oblast is quite busy. The guests have already visited and are planning to visit a number of enterprises and cultural and tourist sites. They will also take part in the Gomel Economic Forum, which is expected to see the signing of a number of cooperation documents.
Governor of Gomel Oblast Ivan Krupko stressed that the visit of the delegation serves as confirmation of the burgeoning friendship between the regions and their mutual commitment to developing fruitful cooperation. The partners were presented with the potential of the Belarusian region and its capabilities across various industries and sectors.
“Gomel Oblast highly values its friendship with the People's Republic of China,” Ivan Krupko noted. He stated that the development of interregional relations forms the basis for mutually beneficial trade, economic, and investment partnerships. Today, Gomel Oblast is connected with regions of China by five agreements on establishing sister-city relations. We are open to cooperation and place great importance on our partnership with China, development of mutual trade in goods and services. Over the past five years, trade turnover between Gomel Oblast and China has more than doubled," the head of the region noted.
According to him, major exports to China are wood pulp, meat, dairy, confectionery, and alcoholic products.
“Gomel Oblast is keen on developing cooperation with Changchun City and Jilin Province, and on increasing mutual supplies of high-quality goods. Currently, 20 enterprises in Gomel Oblast are certified to supply food products to China," Ivan Krupko added.
He emphasized that there are promising prospects for further trade and investment cooperation with Jilin Province in several areas. Firstly, this includes the supply of food products from Gomel producers to Jilin: beef, poultry meat and edible by-products, whole milk products, condensed and dried milk and cream, dried dairy whey, milk-based candies, confectionery and alcoholic products, as well as wood processing goods and mineral fertilizers. Secondly, this is industrial projects in Gomel Oblast, utilizing the preferences of the Gomel-Raton free economic zone. “Thirdly, this is investment projects in agriculture: the construction of dairy farms with subsequent processing and supply of finished products to China,” Ivan Krupko said, outlining promising areas for cooperation.
He expressed confidence that the current visit of the Chinese delegation would open up new prospects for cooperation and the implementation of joint projects and would contribute to the prosperity of the two regions.
In turn, Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the Changchun Municipal People’s Government Zhang Yong called the August visit of the Gomel delegation to the Chinese province a window of future friendship and cooperation. He also admitted that he was impressed both by Belarus in general and by the Gomel land in particular. “I was very impressed by the enterprises, by their order, management, and good facilities,” Zhang Yong added.
“Besides the economy, we can talk about a wide range of topics: culture, sports, medicine, student exchange,” he is convinced.
The head of the delegation pointed out that there are already examples of close cooperation between enterprises of the two regions. “But this is only the beginning,” he believes.
Zhang Yong also emphasized the importance of developing interregional cooperation, both between cities, and between Gomel Oblast and Jilin Province as a whole.
The program of the Chinese delegation’s visit to Gomel Oblast is quite busy. The guests have already visited and are planning to visit a number of enterprises and cultural and tourist sites. They will also take part in the Gomel Economic Forum, which is expected to see the signing of a number of cooperation documents.
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