Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 7 September (BelTA) – It is important to solve the difficulties that Belarusian companies are facing when entering the Chinese market, Belarus Prime Minister Sergei Rumas said as he met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Belarus Cui Qiming, BelTA has learned.

“The level of strategic cooperation between our countries is very high. Our heads of state have developed a wonderful personal relationship. But I regret to say that the level of trade and economic relations is below that of political contacts,” Sergei Rumas said.

Recently the Belarusian export to China began to grow more rapidly. Yet the gap between export and import is not reducing. “Our companies, unfortunately, are experiencing difficulties when entering the Chinese market. We are grateful to the Chinese side for removing quarantine restrictions on agricultural products. But we also have to note that Belarusian citizens and companies face financial barriers in settlements,” the prime minister noted.

According to Sergei Rumas, a series of agreements reached during the meeting of the heads of state during the Qingdao SCO Summit are already being implemented. This primarily applies to the visa facilitation. A lot of work is still ahead on other arrangements. For example, plans are in place to hold a big economic forum in the Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park Great Stone.

In November Belarus will take part in the first China International Import Expo to be held in Shanghai. This event will be a good platform to advance not only for Belarusian goods but also services to the Chinese market, the prime minister noted.

This year has been declared the Belarus and China Year of Tourism. There is an agreement to hold the Belarus and China Year of Education in 2019.

“There are very many dimensions where we need to advance cooperation. I hope for your active position as ambassador and support in this matter,” Sergei Rumas said.

Ambassador Cui Qiming said that he fully agreed with the Belarusian prime minister’s assessment of the Belarusian-Chinese relations. “In recent years the countries have enjoyed the best bilateral relations ever. Our relations and contacts at the highest and high levels have become more frequent. The mutual political trust has also strengthened,” the ambassador thinks.