11 May 2010
Chinese expert sees good prospects for Belarus-China cooperation
GRODNO, 11 May (BelTA) – There are good prospects for cooperation between Belarus and China, said auditor-in-chief of the National Audit Office of China Sun Baohou as he met with the administration of the Grodno oblast on 10 May. In particular, there is huge potential for cooperation between the Grodno oblast and China in engineering, chemical industry, and construction materials manufacturing. The bilateral trade between the Grodno oblast and China (and export of the Grodno oblast dairy products, in particular) may be also increased, Sun Baohou said. A delegation of the National Audit Office of China arrived in Grodno on a working visit on 10 May. The Chinese delegation held a meeting at the Grodno oblast executive committee and got familiar with the economic and social potential of the Grodno oblast and the scope of the Belarus State Control Committee activities. Acting Governor of the Grodno oblast noted that Grodno is intensively developing trade, economic and cultural relations with China. The Grodno oblast established twin relations with the Gansu Province of China, the Grodno Office of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed agreement on cooperation with the Lanzhou department of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, while Yanka Kupala Grodno State University signed agreements on students’ exchange with a number of Chinese universities. A Center of the Chinese Language and Culture operates in Grodno. Sun Baohou, in turn, said that China used to invite foreign investors to establish ventures in China and promote Chinese goods abroad and now Chinese businessmen are eager to create companies outside China and import foreign goods. Therefore, China is interested in Belarus’ experience in establishment and operation of big industrial companies, housing construction, and agrotowns creation. The information technologies are also a promising area of bilateral cooperation as China is among the world leaders in this sphere. It is the third time that Chinese experts visit Belarus in the context of cooperation between the State Control Committee of Belarus and the National Audit Office of China. The sides have confirmed the intention to develop cooperation in the light of the intensification of economic relations between Belarus and China. On 11 May the Chinese experts together with the representatives of the Chinese Embassy in Belarus are scheduled to pay visits to the Grodno Khimvolokno and the Progress-Vertilishki farm. The Chinese guests will also get familiar with tourist infrastructure of the region and the Augustow Canal, in particular.БЕЛТА