GOMEL, 1 April (BelTA) – A letter of intent on establishing twin town relations was signed by representatives of Gomel and the city of Hohhot (Inner Mongolia, China) at the Gomel City Hall on 1 April, BelTA has learned.
The document calls for promoting cooperation in economy, trade, science, technology, environmental protection, culture, education, sport, tourism, health. Gomel and Hohhot are to become twin towns in the future.
Cooperation prospects between Gomel Oblast and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were also discussed at a meeting in the Gomel Oblast Executive Committee. Gomel Oblast Deputy Governor Andrei Konyushko noted that cooperation with China is high on the region’s agenda. For example, the Gomel Oblast Executive Committee signed an agreement with the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2011. The deputy governor emphasized that the region is open for cooperation across various sectors. He expressed confidence that the ongoing visit will pave the way for new projects.
Andrei Konyushko noted that the parties are eager promote relations in all fields. He informed that many dairy companies of Gomel Oblast are accredited to supply their products to China. “We keep working on quality, on reducing the prime cost in order to increase the supplies of Gomel Oblast products to China,” Andrei Konyushko said.
Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Inner Mongolia Fu Yongchun expressed interest in expanding comprehensive cooperation. He noted that Inner Mongolia is rich in natural resources: there are forests in the east, iron ore in the west, animal breeding is well developed in the north, and grain is cultivated in the south. Fu Yongchun informed that Inner Mongolia will host the biennial China-Mongolia Expo for the third time this year and invited a Gomel delegation to take part in this large-scale event. Andrei Konyushko, in turn, invited a delegation from Inner Mongolia to attend the Gomel Economic Forum.
In January Gomel Oblast’s major exporters to China included Milkavita (33%), Forwarder, Prolog By, Forestprompil timber exporters, Rogachevsky Len linen producer and others. Gomel Oblast’s companies import from China electric and electronic equipment, electric engines, machinery, fabric and yarn, fireproof materials.