Interview with China Central Television

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Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko gave an interview to China Central Television (CCTV) on 1 March.

The Belarusian President answered a number of questions regarding the most important results and prospects of the Belarusian-Chinese cooperation. The interview focused on the participation of Belarus in the implementation of China’s initiative to create the Silk Road Economic Belt. Special attention was drawn to the Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park as one of the most important and promising projects in the countries located along the Silk Road Economic Belt.

The President of Belarus said that the initiative to create the Silk Road Economic Belt is a great idea promoting unity and creation.

The Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park Great Stone is meant to become an important link of the new road. According to the leaders of the two countries, the park can be the pearl of the Silk Road Economic Belt.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed: “We expect (and have already started to bring this idea to life) that this project will bring serious investments to Belarus. Xi Jinping and I have a strict demand: enterprises producing cutting-edge products should be established in the park.”

“The Republic of Belarus is the center of Europe, the European Union is the hi-tech union,” the head of state continued. “It is a dead-end to make products of the previous generation and try to sell them on these markets. Therefore, it is essential to manufacture and sell products of excellent quality.”

According to the President, Belarus is prepared for it more than any other country. It has a well-developed infrastructure of railways, motorways, air transport because Belarus is at the crossroads of these routes. Besides, the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union with an active participation of Belarus opens up new opportunities.

The President pointed out the fact that other partners can join this project. “It is important to prevent the creation of any dividing barriers when founding this industrial cluster. We have taken it into account since the very beginning. Our project is open for everyone and is not aimed against anyone,” the head of state said. “This is a wonderful project because it relies on the great idea of unity (economic and trade unity) which will definitively unite cultures and nations in the future.”

The interview of Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko with China Central Television (CCTV) will be included in the six-episode documentary series One Belt, One Road. It will be aired on CCTV in June 2016.