Events

BREST, 19 September (BelTA) – Brest Oblast and China’s Anhui Province are intent on stepping up interregional cooperation. The intentions were discussed as a Chinese delegation met with top officials of the Brest Oblast administration on 19 September, BelTA has learned.

A delegation led by Deputy Chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Anhui Province Shen Suli came to Brest. She noted that Brest Oblast and Anhui Province signed a cooperation agreement one year ago and China representatives are interested in expanding contacts with the partners. “We expect our regions to secure even larger cooperation in trade and economy, science and education, healthcare, tourism, and culture. We particularly hope for cooperation between agricultural enterprises, food industry enterprises, mechanical engineering companies, and manufacturers of construction materials,” she noted.

According to Yuri Narkevich, Chairman of the Brest Oblast Council of Deputies, China is a strategic partner for the Belarusian region. The sides take steps to gradually increase the trade turnover. In January-July 2018 bilateral trade totaled $92 million, 50% up from the same period of last year. All the prerequisites for further increasing Belarusian merchandise export are in place. In particular, Brest Oblast dairy products are not represented in Anhui Province yet.

Yuri Narkevich said: “We are interested in long-term cooperation with Anhui Province, in the implementation of joint projects. We see prospects for cooperation in logistics. According to our information, Chinese partners are having some troubles with filling containers travelling from Europe back to China. We can offer quality products to Chinese consumers such as dairy products, flax, and other ones.”

A proposal to establish cooperation between the Brest Oblast Council of Deputies and the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Anhui Province was put forward during the meeting.

The Chinese delegation visited the Brest Hero Fortress memorial complex and a public welfare home built in Brest using China’s technical and economic aid.