Meeting with China’s Communist Party Secretary of Hunan Province Du Jiahao

Promising avenues of cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and China’s HunanProvince were discussed at the meeting of Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko and China’s Communist Party Secretary of Hunan Province Du Jiahao on 13 April.

HunanProvince has found a reliable partner in the face of Mogilev Oblast and has been actively working with it. That is why at today’s meeting the President invited the Chinese guest to discuss the aspects of cooperation with Mogilev Oblast in particular and Belarus in general. “We have every opportunity to increase food supplies to HunanProvince and first of all dairy products from Mogilev Oblast. Chinese cargo containers travel to Europe via Belarus and return back half-empty. We are ready to load them with milk, yogurts, ice cream which are in an increasing demand in your country. Babushkina Krynka is ready to meet your needs in the products,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Belarus is also interested in the successful implementation of the earlier-signed contacts and in particular those with China’s Zoomlion. According to the head of state, a Belarusian-Chinese company was registered in the Mogilev free economic zone in February 2017 to produce construction and utilities special-purpose vehicles. Strommashina plant is gearing up for the joint assembling of crane facilities. Aleksandr Lukashenko expressed hope that Zoomlion will operate successfully in the GreatStoneIndustrial Park. “Taking into account provided preferences, the company will be able to establish high-technology production very fast. These products will be in demand not only in Belarus, but also in Russia and the European Union,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

According to the President, Belarus and HunanProvince need to develop closer ties in culture and education. “Keeping in mind the popularity of Belarusian creative companies in China, it would be great to organize tours to HunanProvince as well,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. He believes that friendship between Belarus and China should be also promoted between the younger generation. An appropriate format for it is a cultural exchange of students with a temporary stay in families in summer. Belarusian schools run the Chinese language courses. Russian is taught in China. “Children adapt and find understanding very fast. Such projects will be useful and interesting,” the President said.

The head of state stressed that Belarus and HunanProvince have a great potential for cooperation in various areas. With a view to fulfilling this potential, Aleksandr Lukashenko suggested opening a representative office of HunanProvince in Belarus. If the decision is approved, Belarus is ready to provide all necessary assistance in implementing the project. The best conditions will be also created if HunanProvince decides to open its office in Mogilev.