Opinions & Interviews

SHANGHAI, 8 November (BelTA – Xinhua) - Deputy Head of the Belarus President Administration Nikolai Snopkov emphasized the important role of the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) as he addressed the Belarusian-Chinese business forum on the sidelines of the CIIE.

In his address to the participants of the event Nikolai Snopkov identified three key milestones of 2018. “First, this is the year of the 40th anniversary of the policy of reform and openness in China. The country has gone a long way, from a closed and semi-closed economy, as China President Xi Jinping put it at the opening of the expo, to active leadership in the world's progress spearheading the movement towards free world trade. In this regard the first import expo in Shanghai is further confirmation of China’s firm commitment to promote world trade, make it more open and inclusive. It is a practical platform of common contribution to the achievement of the main goal – building the community of common destiny for entire humankind. Second, the exhibition and the forum are held in the year when we mark the 5th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Container traffic from China to the EU through Belarus has risen ten times since 2014. The industrial park Great Stone, the jewel of the new Silk Road, has flourished. Thirdly, this year marks a breakthrough for Belarusian exports to China. In January-August, our exports to China, including Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, grew by 18%. Export of food products surged five times, including that of dairy products nine times,” Nikolai Snopkov said.

“We have entered the market and set up sales channels in China. Now the most important task is to gain a foothold in the market, enhance stability and increase sales channels. As Xi Jinping said at the CIIE opening, economic globalization is irreversible, it is a historical trend. People may know and apply economic laws but they cannot change them. We, as participants of the expo, gathered here to apply economic laws that create value through joint effort,” Nikolai Snopkov said.

Nikolai Snopkov stressed the importance of the exhibition and the forum. “The expo is of fundamental importance for the global development,” he said. “The task is to unite, move forward, eliminate barriers, cooperate and build the community of common destiny,” he said.