Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Li Qiang arrived on an official visit to Belarus on Thursday, where he was welcomed by Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko.
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko met with Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Li Qiang in Minsk. The Belarusian head of state warmly welcomed the distinguished guest. Lukashenko stated:
We attach exceptional importance to your visit. I think it may be historic. Now the most urgent task for us is to raise economic and investment co-operation to the level of political co-operation.
He noted that despite the great geographical distance, the two sides are united not only in their assessments of the past, but also in their views on the current political situation, as well as on the future world order. Belarus and China have established the highest level of relations in history – an all-weather and all-round strategic partnership. Lukashenko added:
We are linked with President Xi Jinping by a deep and sincere, very long-standing friendship. The two countries give each other unconditional support in issues affecting the indigenous interests.
He recalled that at the beginning of the pandemic, Belarus was the first country to send a plane with humanitarian aid to China. Lukashenko noted:
When the COVID reached Belarus, Beijing repaid many times over by transferring several dozens of tonnes of medical cargo to Minsk. The Belarusian people responded to your kindness with understanding and great kindness.
Expressing gratitude to China for providing technical and economic assistance, Lukashenko emphasised:
Even during the difficult period of the pandemic, we managed to continue the construction of international-class sports facilities donated to us by the Great China. Already today they are becoming not just a decoration of the Belarusian capital, but symbols of friendship between our countries.
The president also noted that today China is a recognised leader in the field of innovation, as China is the country where technological megaprojects are being implemented.
15 new investment projects
The head of state pointed out that Belarus has retained the highest competences in microelectronics, mechanical engineering, space industry since the times of the USSR. This year the first Belarusian spaceman was sent to the ISS. Belarus is among the nuclear powers and has huge scientific and technical capabilities, including IT sphere. Lukashenko also said:
I propose to define the core task of the governments of the two countries for the medium term until 2030 as the realisation of a large influx of Chinese technologies into our republic. We see the development of Belarus in conjunction with the concept of China’s new productive forces based on technology, innovation and quality human potential. We are actively working with Chinese partners on 15 new investment projects of strategic level worth up to three billion dollars.
According to him, the most important of projects are: the third stage of the project on deep grain processing of the Belarusian National Biotechnology Corporation, construction of plants for the production of bleached kraft pulp and particleboard, organisation of modern automated casting, production of engines, polypropylene, urea, sodium chlorate, hydrogen peroxide, soda ash. The president said:
We believe that these enterprises to be built in Belarus will also be useful for the Chinese economy.
Alexander Lukashenko also noted that during Li Qiang’s visit to Belarus, the two sides will sign documents that consolidate the plans of prospective partnership in key areas.
Belarus expects that thanks to the creation of transparent and predictable rules, the export of Belarusian services to China will grow by at least 12-15% in the next 5 years, while investments in Belarus – by at least 30%.
