Cooperation of great potential

Political mutual trust between Belarus and China is constantly getting stronger. This was stated by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Belarus Xie Xiaoyong at the international online conference "Belarus and China: common development trajectory".

"Next year, a significant event will take place, i.e. the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Chinese-Belarusian diplomatic relations. Over the past 30 years, thanks to the continuous work of the two sides and personal care of the leaders of the states, stable and healthy development of relations has been maintained. The business community in various fields is constantly rising to a new level and bears outstanding results for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries," – said, in particular, Xie Xiaoyong. According to the ambassador, the development of the Belarusian-Chinese relations is characterized by distinctive features. "Firstly, the political mutual trust between the two sides is constantly getting stronger. Both states maintain close and frequent exchanges at high and highest levels, close coordination in international affairs, and also firmly support each other in matters concerning the key interests of the two countries, –said Xie Xiaoyong – Secondly, trade and economic cooperation maintains good momentum of development. Despite the impact of the pandemic, the volume of trade between China and Belarus last year showed significant 10 percent growth. From January to April this year, the total volume of imports and exports of goods between the countries amounted to $1.25 billion – 58 percent increase as against the same period last year. China has become the second largest trading partner of Belarus. The parties have achieved new results in the joint construction of the Belt and Road initiative, and the Great Stone China-Belarus Industrial Park has become a landmark project of this initiative."

The head of the diplomatic mission noted that humanitarian exchanges are also becoming closer. "The number of joint research projects between the two countries is increasing, which is yielding great results. In 2020, more than 5,000 Chinese students studied in Belarus, and over 1,000 Belarusian students in China. Established by China Confucius Institutes and the Chinese Cultural Center in Minsk work in Belarus," – Xie Xiaoyun said. "Interregional cooperation has become a new growth point for the development of bilateral relations. All six regions of Belarus and the city of Minsk have established twinning relations with the provinces and cities of China. Interregional cooperation is continuously being enriched with new content and plays a more important role in strengthening and deepening of Chinese-Belarusian cooperation and traditional friendship between the two peoples, – the diplomat emphasized. – Besides, cooperation during the pandemic has further strengthened the friendship between the two peoples. After the outbreak of COVID-19, China and Belarus provided each other with material assistance, exchanged experience in combatting the epidemic. In January and May the Chinese government provided the Belarusian side with a batch of vaccines against coronavirus free of charge."

According to the head of the diplomatic mission, the results achieved by the countries in different spheres demonstrate a high level of interaction and peculiarities of relations between the two countries, speak of deep friendship between Belarus and China, and also reflect the true meaning of the proverb "a friend in need is a friend indeed." "The China-Belarus cooperation has great potential and broad development prospects. The countries face a common task – protection of their sovereignty, security, and international justice. It is necessary to transform the enormous political advantages, friendly relations between the two states into specific driving forces for the continuous expansion of comprehensive exchange in education, science, technology, culture, to increase exchange between think tanks and youth, as well as to continuously strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between peoples," – the Chinese ambassador said.

Online conference "Belarus and China: common development trajectory" Xie Xiaoyong

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Vladimir velikhov