Opinions & Interviews

BEIJING, 15 May (BelTA) – There are big prospects for the operation of China’s CITIC Group Corporation Ltd. in Belarus, President Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with CITIC Group Chairman of the Board Chang Zhenming in Beijing on 15 May, BelTA has learned.

The head of state remarked that he had heard a lot about CITIC Group and had familiarized himself with many good projects of this company. However, he always wanted to know why the company had not been fully involved in business in Belarus yet.

“Yes, you implement projects in our country. I know them very well, I look at some of your projects twice a day when I drive past the construction site. However, it is a drop in the ocean for such a big company as yours,” Alexander Lukashenko believes.

The president encouraged senior executives of the corporation to analyze various forms of doing business in Belarus which can be launched in the near future. “Tell us what we should do,” he said. “There are a few problems concerning the projects we are working on with you. Please tell us where such problems exist, in your opinion.”

The head of state noted that he has already discussed the today’s meeting with the Chinese president and added that he hopes to reach concrete agreements.

Chang Zhenming, in turn, thanked Alexander Lukashenko for the meeting in spite of his busy schedule. The negotiations were attended by heads of crucial divisions of the corporation.

In 2007-2013, the company implemented a project to build three cement plants in Belarus. In a few years, the corporation embarked on the construction of an automobile plant BelGee and a multi-purpose facility in Pobediteley Avenue in Minsk. Besides, a decision was made in 2016 to set up a new enterprise in Belarus to produce specialized robots for firefighting, underwater and mining works.

The parties also decided to set up a joint investment fund. A corresponding agreement was signed during the state visit of Alexander Lukashenko to China in September 2016.

CITIC Group Corporation Ltd. is a state-owned company. It is accountable to the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. The corporation unites more than 40 affiliated companies working in China, the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries.