China and Belarus need to expand the circle of partner regional ties - Gong Jianwei

April 1, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. Belarus and China need to expand the range of partnership ties between the regions of the two countries. This opinion was expressed by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Belarus, Gong Jianwei, today at a meeting with the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Kosinets, BELTA correspondent reports. The Ambassador recalled that this is his second visit to the Vitebsk region. "Each meeting brings even more results and successes, strengthening our cooperation. However, our countries still have many unrealized opportunities that need to be utilized. We must look ahead to continue working for the benefit of our peoples," Gong Jianwei emphasized. In his opinion, expanding the range of partnership ties between regions can help in this. "There are 7 regions in Belarus, including Minsk. There are more than thirty in China. We need to expand the circle of partners, which will allow us to find new points for cooperation and strengthen bilateral relations," Gong Jianwei stressed. At a meeting with the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, the Chinese Ambassador also fulfilled an assignment from Heilongjiang Province and conveyed a personal invitation to Alexander Kosinets to head the Vitebsk region delegation, which will take part in the 23rd Harbin Fair in June this year. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Belarus, Gong Jianwei, arrived in the Vitebsk region today. The program of his stay includes meetings with representatives of local authorities in Vitebsk and Polotsk, visits to Vitebsk State University, resident enterprises of FEZ "Vitebsk", Polotsk Dairy Plant, participation in the opening of a photo exhibition of the People's Republic of China at the Vitebsk Regional Museum of Local Lore, dedicated to the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Belarus and China. One of the goals of the ambassador's three-day working trip is to familiarize himself with the progress of Belarusian-Chinese investment projects and promising areas of cooperation. As reported to BELTA correspondent by the Economics Committee of the Regional Executive Committee, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee has established and maintains contacts with Shandong Province (2004) and Heilongjiang Province (2005). Bilateral memorandums on cooperation have been signed between the cities of Jinyang and Vitebsk, Weihai and Novopolotsk, Harbin and Vitebsk. An annual exchange of visits is carried out through enterprises, the administration of FEZ "Vitebsk", and educational institutions. From 2003 to 2007, the festival of youth creativity "Belarus-China" was held in Vitebsk with the support of the PRC Embassy. For nine years, contacts have been maintained between Vitebsk State University and the Chinese province of Inner Mongolia. In particular, students and postgraduate students (up to 100 people) come to Vitebsk for training. Also, at the Secondary School No. 44 in Vitebsk, Chinese language training has been conducted by Chinese postgraduate students and students of Vitebsk State University for more than five years. A cooperation agreement with a university in the city of Changchun has been signed by Polotsk State University, but student and faculty exchanges have not yet taken place. Representatives of PRC provinces have repeatedly visited the Vitebsk State Academy of Veterinary Medicine, and options for training Chinese students have been proposed. Delegations from FEZ "Vitebsk" have repeatedly traveled to the Harbin Fair. In May 2010, a delegation from the region visited the cities of Shanghai, Jinan, as well as the EXPO-2010 World Exhibition. In turn, delegations from Harbin and Heilongjiang Province visited Vitebsk three times, familiarized themselves with the residents of FEZ "Vitebsk", visited the Polotsk Historical and Architectural Reserve, Polotsk Dairy Plant, and Glubokoye Condensed Milk Plant. In early January of this year, a delegation from the Vitebsk City Executive Committee visited Harbin and held negotiations with the Mayor of Harbin and business representatives on the development of trade, economic, and investment relations. Negotiations were also held with the management of the Harbin Development Zone on the issue of creating production facilities in Vitebsk through Chinese investment. The model for creating the most favorable conditions in the Harbin Development Zone was studied. In June 2012, participation of representatives of the Regional Executive Committee, regional enterprises and organizations in the Harbin Fair during the National Exhibition of the Republic of Belarus in the PRC is planned. -0-