Belarus may become a good platform for China for work on the European and world markets. The Prime Minister Sergey Sidorsky announced this in Minsk at the meeting with the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China Lu Guchan.
“Today we have a high integration level with the biggest world producers,” Sergey Sidorsky said at the meeting. In opinion of the Prime Minister, the parties shall concentrate on realization of high-technology joint projects. “We defined more than 200 projects, 40 of them were realized in 2008. This is very important, because high-technology projects under conditions of the world financial crisis will be a basis for development of our relations,” Sergey Sidorsky said. He also noted that Belarus is a country manufacturing science-intensive products. Besides, Belarusian party concluded more than 40 contracts for supply of high-technology goods on the recent exhibition in Harbin.
It is remarkable that in 2007–2008 the inflow of Chinese investments to Belarus became more active. In particular, reconstruction projects of Minsk TPP-2 and TPP-5 are being realized with participation of Chinese capital. A realized “BeST” project was highly estimated. According to Sergey Sidorsky, a joint “Horizont” project can escalate into a large-scale project in the near future.
Active work with a Chinese corporation SITIK is being carried out in the sphere of modernization of cement plants. “In fact, all the issues were solved there,” the Prime Minister noted. He expressed hope that the work of BelAZ, “Gomselmash,” and other Belarusian enterprises will become active on the Chinese market. These questions were discussed in December 2008 during a visit of Belarusian delegation in Peking.
In 2003–2008 years Chinese investments to the amount of 208 million US Dollars came to the economy of Belarus. 96 per cent from them was obtained in the last three years.
In due time the Council of Ministers of Belarus approved the Plan of investment project preparation of the Republic of Belarus with attraction of credits of the People’s Republic of China. In compliance with the document the work is being carried out in the sphere of realization of almost 20 important projects to the amount exceeding 2 billion US Dollars, focused on creation and modernization of export-oriented manufactures and promotion of Belarusian products to the market of the People’s Republic of China. Chinese National Corporation on foreign economic cooperation takes part in realization of Minsk TPP-2 modernization project (volume of investments amounts to 43 million US Dollars) and reconstruction of Minsk TPP-5 to the total amount exceeding 260 million Euros.
The Prime Minister states that the rates of mutual trade development between the countries are “really colossal.” Compare: in 1992 mutual sales turnover amounted only to 34 million US Dollars, and in 2008 it reached 2 billion US Dollars. “In the last two years the sales turnover of Belarus and China doubled,” he said.
In opinion of Sergey Sidorsky, Belarus and China can make everything possible together not only to save but to expand the accumulated potential of bilateral cooperation under conditions of the world financial crisis. “Our work on the external market will depend on mutual support,” he added. The Prime Minister also noted a high level of the political dialogue development between the countries.
Lu Guchan noted that in the last years friendly relations of Belarus and China develop actively not only in a political, but also in an economic sphere. “Our cooperation is constructive, and we achieved success,” the diplomat underlined. The ambassador also expressed his gratitude for support and humanitarian aid of Belarus to the Chinese province, which suffered from the earthquake.
By results of 2007, the People’s Republic of China ranked 5th by the volume of sales turnover, 7th — by export to Belarus and 3rd — by import among the countries of far abroad. The main articles of Belarusian export to China are potash fertilizers, mine trucks and spare parts to them, electronic integrated circuits and chip assembly, metal products, chemical production, engineering tools and professional equipment. Several Belarusian industrial enterprises have their representatives and dealers in the People’s Republic of China. Belarus imports equipment, complementary parts and materials for export-oriented manufactures, consumer goods from the People’s Republic of China.
Meetings of Belarusian-Chinese intergovernmental commission on trading and economic cooperation are carried out on a regular basis.
Milena Anufrieva
