Business news

GOMEL, 3 May (BelTA) – Economic cooperation with the Chinese city of Chengdu (Sichuan Province) is among the priorities for Gomel, Chairman of the Gomel City Hall Piotr Kirichenko said as he met with the journalists from the People's Republic of China, BelTA has learned.

Piotr Kirichenko recalled that the memorandum to establish friendly relations between Gomel and Chengdu was signed in November 2016. “We hope that this partnership and interaction will develop in many areas. However, the economic cooperation is among the top priorities,” Piotr Kirichenko noted.

Chengdu is one of the largest industrial and economic centers of China. According to historical data, it was there where the southern stretch of the Silk Road started once. “Today, when the ambitious project One Belt, One Road gets underway, we expect that both cities will find points of ocntact in this economic corridor,” Piotr Kirichenko noted.

Equally important is the cooperation in the fields of culture, education, and medicine, the mayor noted. First steps have already been taken. For example, in November 2016 during the visit of the official delegation of Gomel Oblast to Sichuan Province, an agreement was reached to set up a center of traditional Chinese medicine in Gomel. Initially an agreement was reached to exchange experts for personnel training for the center. According to Piotr Kirichenko, doctors from Gomel will visit their Chinese colleagues soon and will continue negotiations on the development of the center. It is expected to open in 2018. The center is expected to employ both local doctors and specialists from the People's Republic of China.

During the meeting, the Gomel mayor informed the Chinese journalists about the upcoming cultural events in Gomel and invited Chengdu to take part in the City Day celebrations due on 16 September.

Representatives of the Chinese mass media are in Belarus on a press tour on 1-7 May.