Sergei Sidorsky: Belarus can be good platform for China on European market

Belarus can become a good platform for China on the European and global markets, said Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky as he met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Belarus Lu Guicheng in Minsk on January 12. “We have similar enterprises, which operate successfully even during the global financial crisis. In particular, it holds true for the manufacturing of consumer goods, light industry products. At present we are tightly integrated with the world’s largest manufacturers,” said Sergei Sidorsky. He underscored “We could offer our enterprises for integration with China, with relevant preferences provided”. According to the Prime Minister, the sides should primarily concentrate on the implementation of joint high-tech projects. “We have chosen over 200 projects. 40 projects were accomplished in 2008. It is very important. High-tech projects during the global financial crisis will be the basis for the development of our relations,” said Sergei Sidorsky. Belarus is a country which manufactures science-intensive products. At the expo in Harbin Belarus signed over 40 contracts for the supply of high-tech goods. The Prime Minister remarked, 2007-2008 saw an increase in Chinese investments in Belarus. In particular, Chinese capital was used to refit Minsk cogeneration plants 2 and 5. The accomplished project BeST was praised. According to Sergei Sidorsky, the finished project of TV maker Horizont can evolve into a larger-scale project in the future. Now Belarus cooperates with Chinese corporation CITIC for the sake of modernising cement mills. “Actually all the issues related to it are resolved,” remarked the Prime Minister. He said he hopes BelAZ, Gomselmash and other Belarusian companies will work harder on the Chinese market. These matters were discussed during a visit of the Belarusian delegation to Beijing in December 2008. In 2003-2008 China’s investments into the Belarusian economy totalled nearly $208 million, with 96% of the sum invested in the last three years. As of January 1, 2008 there were 17 organisations with a share of Chinese capital in Belarus. On June 2, 2007 the Council of Ministers of Belarus approved a plan of preparation of Belarusian investment projects using Chinese loans in 2007-2010. In line with the document efforts are put into the implementation of about 20 most important projects worth over $2 billion. The projects are aimed at establishing or modernising export-oriented enterprises in Belarus and promoting Belarusian products in China. The Chinese national corporation for international economic cooperation participates in the modernisation of Minsk cogeneration plant No 2 (the investments are as large as $43 million) and reconstruction of Minsk cogeneration plant No 5 (over ?260 million).

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