Business news

MINSK, 28 September (BelTA) – Belarus and China are interested in cooperation in forestry, BelTA learned from the website of the Belarusian Forestry Ministry.

A delegation of China’s Yunnan Province has recently visited Belarus. Representatives of Honghe County led by Shao Zhong, Director of the Permanent Committee of the Honghe County Assembly of People's Representatives, conducted negotiations with specialists of the Belarusian Forestry Ministry. First Deputy Forestry Minister Alexander Kulik addressed the guests with a welcoming speech and pointed to the importance of the visit. “The ministry pursues the policy of expanding international contacts. We have always actively worked with foreign departments. Now we are entering a new level,” he underlined.

According to the first deputy minister, nowadays many countries feel the effects of climate change. Teamwork is required to deal with this challenge. “Last year a storm damaged about five million cubic meters of wood. This year we have had another problem: a bark beetle outbreak. We understand that the forest has no borders: today a trouble comes to one country, tomorrow to another one. This is why we need to exchange experience with specialists from various countries,” Alexander Kulik emphasized.

The Honghe County delegates told about their trouble: forest fires. Yunnan Province is situated in Southwest China and borders with Laos and Vietnam in the south and with Myanmar in the west. Hot climate, relatively small territory, and high population density are the working conditions for Chinese foresters. The Chinese delegation has come to Belarus to get familiarized with Belarus’ forest management system and explore the country’s experience in forest protection. Another task to be fulfilled by Yunnan Province in the future is to improve the species composition of the region’s forest. “Our forest occupies a large part of the province but our soil is not as good as yours,” Shao Zhong said.

When the official part of the visit was over, the guests visited the National Forest Selection and Seed Center to learn more about the solutions of Belarusian specialists. The Chinese delegation also attended the exhibitions Lesdrevtekh and Hunting and Fishing. Autumn 2017. The Chinese guests commended the quality of Belarusian products.

The press service noted that both sides showed interest in cooperation. The Chinese delegates expressed hope that Belarusian specialists will soon explore Chinese solutions and background in forestry.