BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

22/12/2007

Chinese ambassador: China-Belarus ties grow at faster pace

MINSK, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- China-Belarus relations have been growing steadily in recent years and their development is now gathering momentum, marked by increased pragmatic cooperation between the two countries, the Chinese ambassador said here on Friday.

"Since China and Belarus established diplomatic ties 15 years ago, mutual trust has been strengthened and bilateral cooperation has yielded fruitful fruits in many areas." said Wu Hongbin, China's ambassador to Belarus.

During Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Belarus in November, China agreed to provide loans totaling 500 million U.S. dollars for the construction of cement plants in Belarus, making the loan project the largest of its kind in the Commonwealth of Independent States region, Wu told Xinhua in an interview.

"In 2006, two-way trade between China and Belarus reached 660 million U.S. dollars, and the figure is expected to exceed 1 billion in 2007, " Wu said.

Apart form the economic field, China and Belarus have also expanded cooperation and exchanges in cultural and other areas.

A growing number of Chinese students are going to Belarus for further studies, and plans are under way for more exchanges between the two countries' youths, Wu said.

Belarussian people have shown great interest in China and the Chinese culture, he said.

Cultural events such as youth concerts and silk exhibitions sponsored by the Chinese embassy drew large audiences in Belarus, Wu said, adding that the embassy is planning a Chinese Tea Festival at the beginning of 2008.

Source:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/22/content_7294750.htm