MINSK, 20 January (BelTA) – On 20 January Belarus-China diplomatic relations marked their 29th anniversary. The past year saw many events that strengthened bilateral relations and advanced them to a higher level, the Belarusian Embassy in China told BelTA.
“Despite the coronavirus pandemic and the decline of economic activity all over the world, the cooperation of the Republic of Belarus with the People's Republic of China intensified in all the fields. The two countries maintained political, economic, and humanitarian contacts.
The diplomatic mission recalled that on 11 June 2020, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko had a telephone conversation with President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping to discuss the bilateral agenda and efforts to increase Belarus' exports to China.
On 18 June 2020 Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei took part in a high-level video conference of the Belt and Road initiative. The foreign minister noted that Belarus is a strategic platform for the Belt and Road initiative. He also pointed to the importance of implementing the project of the Eurasian Railway Gateway Company at the Great Stone industrial park. The minister also spoke about the use of satellite navigation seals in Belarus to speed up the movement of goods and the willingness to share best practices in this field.
In October-November 2020, both countries appointed their ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary. Yuri Senko became the Ambassador of Belarus to China, while Xie Xiaoyong became the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Belarus.
“Being reliable strategic partners, Belarus and China actively support each other in the international arena,” the diplomatic mission stressed.
The fourth meeting of the Belarus-China intergovernmental committee on cooperation was held in the format of a videoconference on 14 December. It was chaired by Belarus First Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Snopkov and Politburo member, a Central Secretariat secretary, and Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Guo Shengkun.
“The two countries sent humanitarian aid to each other in the midst of the fight against COVID-19. It was a true testimony to sincere friendship and mutual support. Belarus was the first country in the region to lend a helping hand to China as it sent two planes with humanitarian cargo on 30 January and 6 February 2020 by the decision of the head of state. In April, May, December 2020, medical supplies were delivered from China to Belarus, including aid from the Chinese government, 21 regions and many companies, as well as medical products purchased by Belarusian companies,” the embassy said.
Despite the difficulties and obstacles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, trade and economic cooperation bounced back: the trade was back on the growth track, Belarus increased and diversified exports to China with a focus on agricultural and woodworking products, Belarusian goods got a broader access to the Chinese market. The Great Stone industrial park keeps growing; ambitious investment projects are in progress in Belarus; China keeps providing technical and economic assistance to Belarus. In 2020, 13 new resident companies were registered in the Great Stone industrial park. By now the park has 68 companies from 14 countries, which testifies to the international status of the project.
The diplomatic mission emphasized that a third Consulate General of the Republic of Belarus opened in China's Chongqing in September 2020 as part of the efforts to boost interregional cooperation.
