Opinions & Interviews

Belarus interested in strengthening comprehensive cooperation with China

MINSK, 17 December (BelTA) - Prospects of bilateral relations were high on the agenda of a meeting between Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic Natalya Kochanova and Chinese Ambassador to Belarus Cui Qiming, BelTA learned from the press service of the Council of the Republic.

Belarus and China are reliable friends and partners, who are bound by comprehensive strategic cooperation ties, Natalya Kochanova said. Warm and trusting relations between heads of state are at the heart of bilateral ties. “We are proud of the good relations with China. This is really an all-weather friendship, an iron brotherhood," the speaker said. “We are grateful to Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government for their attention to cooperation with Belarus. A loan agreement has been signed. We are grateful for your support,” she said.

Natalya Kochanova assured that the new Council of the Republic will make efforts to further develop inter-parliamentary ties with China, to implement the agreements reached earlier.  “We will continue to do everything possible to ensure that our inter-parliamentary ties continue to develop in the most constructive way. In the near future, we will set up a working group on cooperation with the Chinese parliament," she said.

The chairwoman of the Council of the Republic also added that not only political, trade and economic ties, but also humanitarian partnerships and youth contacts have been rapidly growing between the two countries. Belarusian schoolchildren and students learn Chinese. All this provides a good basis for further strengthening of bilateral cooperation.

Ambassador Cui Qiming congratulated Natalya Kochanova on her election as Chairperson of the Council of the Republic and conveyed greetings from the leadership of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. The ambassador praised successful cooperation with Belarus in the Belt and Road project and welcomed the progress in the development of the China-Belarus industrial park Great Stone. China remains committed to strengthening bilateral ties, including at the parliamentary level, he said.

Talking to the media after the meeting, the ambassador said that the loan agreement signed between the two countries would help intensify investment cooperation and implement new joint projects.

In January-October 2019, the trade between Belarus and China reached $3.8 billion, up 25.5% year-on-year. The export made up $608.1 million, the import - $3.2 billion.

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