Opinions & Interviews

BEIJING, 24 January (BelTA – Xinhua) – The Embassy of Belarus in China held a press briefing on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Belarusian Ambassador in China Kirill Rudy summed up the development of the Belarusian-Chinese relations.

“Relying on the 25-year-experience in the development of relations, Belarus and China will continue to deepen mutual trust and partnership, and will develop the relations of strategic cooperation at an even higher level,” the Ambassador said.

According to him, the parties regularly exchange visits at the highest levels, maintain an active inter-parliamentary dialogue and dynamic interdepartmental contacts. The two countries have successfully cooperated in international organizations providing mutual support on the matters of fundamental importance.

The Ambassador noted that the Belarusian-Chinese bilateral relations acquired a new status in September 2016, when, following the state visit to China by President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, the two countries established a new special level of bilateral relations: trust-based comprehensive strategic partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation, which was reflected in the joint declaration.

The document stipulates the intention to continuously deepen political trust and cooperation in various fields, strengthen contacts between peoples and promote humanitarian exchanges, enrich the component of the Belarusian-Chinese relations of comprehensive strategic partnership, and develop the ‘all-weather friendship’.

The declaration also pays considerable attention to the economic cooperation and the joint promotion of the Silk Road Economic Belt project.

Kirill Rudy noted that thanks largely to the fundamental position of the Chinese side, last year marked the intensified interaction of Belarus with regional and international organizations and mechanisms, including the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and 16 + 1 summit (cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries).

Speaking about the trade and economic ties, Kirill Rudy noted the speedy implementation of the China-Belarus Industrial Park Great Stone project. In his words, eight resident companies have been registered in the park and more than 30 agreements to join the park have been signed. The administrative and business center, offices, production facilities and warehouses will be up for renting in H1 2017.

Investment activities are considered a promising area for strengthening bilateral cooperation. Belarus is currently implementing more than 30 investment projects financed by Chinese banks and the government to the total tune of almost $6 billion.

Kirill Rudy also took note of the positive dynamics in Belarus’ food export to China. Belarus has started supplying beer, colza oil, baked goods and chocolate to China. Belarus is also in talks with Chinese state bodies over the supplies of beef and poultry to the Chinese market.

The Ambassador praised the progress made by the two countries in promoting the cooperation in science, education, culture and tourism. Belarus introduced a 72-hour visa-free travel for Chinese citizens with the Schengen visa. In March 2016 a mutual visa-waiver agreement was signed between the Belarusian government and the government of China’s Special Administrative Region Aomen. In January 2017 an agreement was reached to introduce visa-free regulations with China’s Special Administrative Region Xianggang.