Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 12 September (BelTA) – Belarus and the Chinese city of Qingdao will build an effective business dialogue. The relevant statement was made by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Belarus Cui Qiming during the business forum dedicated to the China-SCO trade and economic cooperation demonstration zone, BelTA has learned.

The ambassador said: “I hope today’s business dialogue on enabling regional trade and economic cooperation between Qingdao and Belarus with the help of the China-SCO trade and economic cooperation demonstration zone will be a success.”

Cui Qiming pointed out that Belarus has a well-developed mechanical engineering industry and a well-developed processing industry and places much emphasis on advancing cooperation with China. “Belarus views China as a diplomatic priority,” stressed the ambassador. “It is a strategic foothold stretching across Eurasia to the west and across the Silk Road Economic Belt. It is a faithful ally and an important participant of the joint efforts to implement the Belt and Road initiative. Belarus highly appreciates the Chinese concept of building together.”

Belarus-China relations and cooperation have been particularly intensive in the last few years thanks to the leadership of the two heads of state. “Both countries solidly support each other on key issues and problems. Both countries are busy building comprehensive strategic partnership, ensuring mutual trust and cooperation. The sides are working towards all-weather friendship,” said the Chinese ambassador. Belarus plays an active role as a link in the Eurasian region, in particular, by putting efforts into creating the China-Belarus industrial park Great Stone, which is an important platform for international industrial cooperation.

Qingdao is a major Chinese sea port. A session of the SCO Heads of State Council took place in the city in June 2018. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko attended the session as the head of state of an observer country. During the session China President Xi Jinping chose Qingdao as a zone to demonstrate benefits of China-SCO trade and economic cooperation.

A Qingdao delegation led by the city’s mayor Meng Fanli is in Belarus on a visit. The visit is supposed to promote vital economic initiatives in economic cooperation with Belarus.