MINSK, 2 February (BelTA) – Belarusian Ambassador to China Yuri Senko has visited Chongqing, a Chinese city of over 32 million people, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Embassy in Beijing.
During his three-day trip to Chongqing the Belarusian diplomat visited research facilities of Changan Automobile Group, one of China’s biggest car manufacturers. “The diplomat met with the company’s senior management to discuss bilateral cooperation,” the diplomatic mission said.
During his visit to the Belarusian Culture and Tourism Center in Chongqing, the ambassador gave an interview to a local TV channel where he gave a positive assessment of the state and prospects of bilateral cooperation between the Chinese region and Belarus.
The Belarusian diplomat also held talks with Ba Chuanjiang, Director of the Chongqing Port and Logistics Office. The parties discussed cooperation opportunities in the field of logistics and transport, including efforts to boost railway container traffic along the China-Europe-China route within the framework of the Belt and Road initiative.
Yuri Senko also met with Zuo Zongshen, Chairman and President of the Board of Directors of Zongshen Industrial Group. The company is listed on the Top 500 Enterprises of China and the Top 100 companies of Chongqing. Its core business is production of engines, motorcycles, and agricultural machinery. During the talks, the parties took stock of the performance of the joint venture of Gomselmash and the Zongshen corporation, and explored new possible areas of cooperation between the Chinese company and the Republic of Belarus.
The visit to Chongqing was the first regional trip of the Belarusian ambassador across China. The central event of the program was the opening ceremony of the Consulate General of Belarus in Chongqing.
A reminder, the Consulate General of the Republic of Belarus officially opened in Chongqing on 28 January. The opening of the consular institution was timed to the 29th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the Republic of Belarus and the People’s Republic of China.
The municipality of Chongqing is roughly the size of Austria.
Sister-city relations between Chongqing and Minsk Oblast were established in 2017.