Business news

MINSK, 26 March (BelTA) – The Chinese province Hunan is interested in advancing cooperation in deliveries of Belarusian food. The matter was discussed as a delegation of the Belarusian parliament met with Peng Yan Feng, Head of the Commerce Department of Hunan Province, on 26 March, the press service of the upper chamber of the Belarusian parliament told BelTA.

Hunan Province maintains tight cooperation with Mogilev Oblast. A Belarusian-Chinese joint venture to produce construction machines and utility vehicles has been established in the free economic zone Mogilev. Zoomlion Company is the Chinese partner in the joint venture. The sides also advance cooperation in food trade. OAO Babushkina Krynka exports dairy products to Hunan Province. At the same time the potential for cooperation is not fully used, noted Peng Yan Feng during the meeting. “We could do so much more, including in food trade. Residents of our province know and love Belarusian dairy foods and cookies,” said the official. He suggested discussing the conditions the export of Belarusian products requires, including logistics. Among possible cooperation avenues Peng Yan Feng also mentioned microelectronics, petrochemical industry, civil engineering, and light industry.

Peng Yan Feng added: “Contacts grow stronger. Belarus-China relations are reaching a new development level. China places special emphasis on the Belt and Road initiative. China views Belarus as a reliable partner and pins hope on the China-Belarus industrial park Great Stone, which is viewed as an important link of the new Silk Road. Peng Yan Feng said he was confident that the visit of the Belarusian parliament delegation to China would contribute to the advancement of the bilateral relations. “The Commerce Department of Hunan Province will put efforts into expanding our partnership,” concluded the official.

In turn, Andrei Rybak, Chairman of the Industry, Fuel and Energy Complex, Transport, and Communications Commission of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, thanked the Chinese side for the opportunity to discuss cooperation prospects and share experience. He also backed the Chinese initiative in favor of more active cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries. Apart from that, the MPs suggested discussing ways to implement joint projects in animal husbandry, dairy and meat industry, education, personnel training, IT industry, and tourism in detail.

Hunan Province is the top rice producer in China. The province is also rich in mineral resources. Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy industries develop well over there. Hunan Province is home to 73 million people. In 2017 Hunan Province’s gross regional product reached ¥3.46 trillion, 8% up from 2016.

The meeting took place in the city of Changsha as part of the Belarusian parliament delegation’s visit to China, which is scheduled for 21-30 March.