Belarus throws its weight behind Belt and Road

Belarus will play an active role in promoting China's goodwill, cultural exchanges and joint cooperation on the European markets and as a key partner in the China-led Belt and Road Initiative, according to Belarusian Ambassador to China, Kiryl Rudy.

Rudy made these remarks on Tuesday at a news conference marking the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Belarus and China.

Belarus is a country located in central Europe. It has borders with Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Ukraine. It established diplomatic relations with China on Jan 20, 1992.

According to Rudy, Belarus plays an important role in the Belt and Road Initiative.

The country has good geographic advantages that are favorable for the logistics industry. The diplomat said it is because the country borders Russia, Ukraine and European Union countries, that Chinese products are transported to Europe through Belarus.

China-Belarus Industrial Park, or the "Great Stone", is a landmark project initiated in 2010 and expected to benefit from the Silk Road Economic Belt strategy.

The park, which is 25 kilometers away from the Belarusian capital, Minsk, has already attracted Chinese enterprises to invest in the zone, including those in the fields of electronics, information technology, machinery manufacturing, LED-production and other high-tech industries.

Huawei Technologies, ZTE Corp, China Merchants Group and other Chinese giants have already settled their new branches in the industrial park.

Regarding cultural exchanges, Rudy said his country has been building a consensus and common understanding of ideas and values between the two countries.

He was optimistic about people-to-people communication between the two countries. He expects that over 10,000 tourists will visit his country in 2017.

Belarus has also boosted its tourism industry by further loosening up its visa policy. Now, Chinese visitor groups with more than five people can receive entry visas upon arrival.

Rudy hopes university graduates in Belarus can work in China's companies, and Chinese students can also be employed in Belarus for mutual understanding.