Vitebsk and China's foreign trade turnover is expected to be at the 2011 level by the end of the half-year

July 6, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. Vitebsk's foreign trade turnover with China is expected to be at the 2011 level by the end of the first half of the year. This was announced today by Viktor Nikolaikin, Chairman of the Vitebsk City Executive Committee, during a reception of an official delegation from Harbin (PRC), according to a BELTA correspondent. According to him, Vitebsk's foreign trade turnover with China amounted to $27 million in 2010. In 2011, it grew to $31.4 million. In January-April of this year, it reached $26 million (practically the same level as in 2010), and according to preliminary estimates, it will reach last year's level by the end of the first half of the year. "Vitebsk and Harbin have great prospects for cooperation, which opened up after the signing of the sister city agreement in January this year. We then outlined the main directions for the development of contacts. The participation of the Vitebsk delegation in the 23rd Harbin International Fair for Trade and Economic Cooperation, which took place in June, helped to strengthen relations. Specialists from various fields are participating in our current meeting, which will allow us to discuss specific areas of cooperation in detail," said Viktor Nikolaikin. In particular, Vitebsk is interested in implementing projects with the participation of Chinese investors for the creation of the Vitebsk Silicon Valley and a joint venture for the production of LED equipment. Projects for the creation of a tourist complex based on the Vitebsk Winery and the development of the fur complex will also be presented to the guests from Harbin. The latter involves the modernization and relocation of the production facilities of the existing enterprise to a new site and its placement in a single complex with a fur farm. The project cost is estimated at $41 million. Viktor Nikolaikin is convinced that the current visit of the Chinese delegation will give a new powerful impetus to cooperation and strengthen friendly and economic ties between the cities. The head of the Chinese delegation, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Harbin Committee Jiang Guowen, holds a similar view. "We highly value our relationship with Vitebsk," he emphasized, noting that the current visit of the Harbin delegation is the first official visit after the establishment of sister city ties between the cities. This time, it includes heads of government bodies and representatives of business circles in four areas that are promising for deepening cooperation. These are tourism, high technologies, the construction industry, and the production of energy-saving equipment and materials. Jiang Guowen expressed confidence that the bilateral business meeting, which will take place on July 7, will yield tangible results, allow potential partners to get to know each other better, and establish close contacts. The delegation from Harbin arrived in Vitebsk today for an official two-day visit. The main work is scheduled for July 7. On this day, representatives of the delegation will meet with Oleg Matskevich, Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, and a business meeting will be held between representatives of the official and business delegations of the PRC and economic entities of the Vitebsk region. In addition, a cultural program is planned for the guests, which includes participation in the celebration of the 125th anniversary of Marc Chagall's birth, a visit to the museum named after him, and other memorable places in the regional center. -0-