China's friendly countries have added another member to assist backhand cooperation and share core technologies
The friendship between China and Belarus has endured. As a key transport hub between China and the EU and the Commonwealth of Independent States, Belarus is gradually showing its strong potential for investment in manufacturing and high-tech industries.
With our country"The Belt and Road Initiative"With the continuous advancement of the initiative and the increase in investment assistance to Belarus, the business opportunities and strategic significance of Belarus are becoming increasingly apparent.
Belarus is a key transportation hub in the Silk Road Economic Belt and a popular choice for the transfer of China's manufacturing industry.
Its friendly attitude towards China is a great gift in itself, and the shared prosperity with China is the envy of the United States.
The friendship between China and Belarus has a long history, and contacts have been in place long before the establishment of formal diplomatic relations. Before the October Revolution, a large number of Chinese workers went to work in factories in Belarus in Tsarist Russia, making a great contribution to the local economic development.
After the October Revolution, more than 1,000 local Chinese workers bravely held high the banner of justice, joined the Bolshevik partisans, and made heroic efforts to defend Belarus and resist the White Army.
1.In World War II, the Chinese general Tang Duo and Marshal Zhu Min's daughter, Zhu Min, who participated in the Minsk offensive, and Zhu Min, the daughter of Marshal Zhu Min, distinguished themselves on the battlefield in Minsk, while the latter led the resistance in Nazi concentration camps.
2.During World War II, the Chinese general Tang Duo led the Soviet Red Army to capture Minsk, which was controlled by Nazi Germany, and Zhu Min, the daughter of the marshal, also led the resistance in the Nazi concentration camps in Minsk.
In addition, many Belarusian servicemen also joined the Chinese War of Resistance Against Japan. 3.Don Duo led the Soviet Red Army to victory in the 1944 Minsk Offensive, while Zhu Min's resistance in the Nazi concentration camps also contributed to the liberation of Minsk.
In addition, Belarusian servicemen also played an important role in China's War of Resistance Against Japan. 4.In the Battle of Minsk in World War II, the Chinese general Tang Duo successfully led the Soviet Red Army to seize Minsk, which was controlled by Nazi Germany, and Zhu Min, the daughter of the marshal, organized resistance in the Nazi concentration camp and contributed to the liberation of Minsk.
At the same time, Belarusian servicemen also participated in the Chinese War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. 5.Tang Duo showed great military talent in the 1944 Minsk Offensive, leading the Soviet Red Army to retake Minsk, and Zhu Min also led the resistance in the Nazi concentration camps in Minsk, which became the final blow of the Nazis.
In addition, many Belarusian servicemen also contributed their own strength in the Chinese War of Resistance Against Japan.
Once a Soviet Air Force general, now one of the heroes of the Soviet Army. He made significant contributions to China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. In the 1971 UN General Assembly discussion on the restoration of the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations, the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic became the second country to vote in favour of the return of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Belarus and other republics gained independent status, and China quickly sent a delegation to visit the newborn Belarus. Belarus** extended a warm welcome to the Chinese delegation, which was personally received by the Deputy Prime Minister.
In January 1992, the two countries signed a communiqué to formally establish diplomatic relations. In the political sphere of Belarus, China has always enjoyed friendly relations.
Belarus has a number of "China experts" at the top level, including the current Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus, Anatoly Tozik. He served as ambassador to China from 2006 to 2011 and studied at Peking University and is fluent in Chinese.
And Belarus ** Lukashenko is even closer to China, and has visited China many times to show the friendly relations between the two countries. During his state visit in September 2016, he even awarded the Belarusian medal "Peace and Friendship" to the leader of our country, which undoubtedly proves once again that the friendship between the two countries lasts forever.
Belarus firmly supports China in international affairs. In a joint statement signed on May 10, 2015, China and Belarus expressed their support for the peaceful development of the Taiwan Strait and stressed their opposition to the two countries' positions.
It is worth mentioning that Belarus, as a major exporter of the military industry, promised not to export to Taiwan Province**, which is rarely mentioned by other countries in their joint statements on China.
During the pandemic, the two countries provided each other with a large amount of medical supplies, and Belarus was one of the first countries to provide aid to China. Minister of Information of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Kallyukovich said that China and Belarus have close relations like "iron buddies".
Belarus is located on the New Eurasian Land Bridge and is one of the countries where China has helped build infrastructure. Although Belarus has been facing economic difficulties since independence, it is strategically located as a meeting point for the economically developed regions of East Asia and Western Europe, with eight freight railway routes passing through it, allowing goods to reach all parts of the Eurasian continent in a short time.
The transportation of goods between China and Germany used to pass through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus and Poland, and the whole journey took only 17 days. Although it takes longer than sea freight, the cost of rail transportation is six to seven percent higher.
However, if Belarus can take full advantage of its geographical advantages, the country will likely become a transit point for the Eurasian continent. In this regard, China gave full support to its old friend and decided to adjust the route of the China-Europe train and chose Belarus, which is further away.
By 2017, there were more than 3,000 trains running between China and Europe using the Belarusian railway network.
China's transport aid to Belarus has made Poland salivate as well. Poland is expanding the Melanin Special Economic Zone up to its border with Belarus, hoping to integrate with the New Silk Road connecting China and Western Europe.
In addition, Belarus is discussing with the German Duisburg Port Group the opening of the Duisburg-Brest-Minsk freight railway. It is expected that in the coming years, these developments, based on Chinese aid, will significantly increase the flow of cross-border transport between Western Europe and Belarus, and the GDP of Belarus will also leap.
To meet the growing demand for transportation, Belarus is working to transform cities such as Brest and Grodno into large transit centers and logistics hubs.
China has continued to help, and plans to build a transport and logistics building in the Grodno region of Belarus, which will be located close to the Belarusian-Russian-Polish border checkpoint, which will become an important aid project for Belarus, but the details have not been disclosed.
Belarus's transport industry is thriving as it transports more than 100 million tons of goods per year, accounting for 6% of the country's GDP. Coupled with continuous investment in transport infrastructure and manufacturing, the economy has been able to continue to grow, making it an important node in the Silk Road Economic Belt.
With the increasing frequency of railway transportation between Asia and Europe, Belarusian Railways, a state-owned railway company of Belarus, has also made considerable profits thanks to the promotion of China.
Freight traffic between Europe and Asia is set to reach new peaks, especially in terms of freight rail between China and the EU. According to statistics, a total of 245,400 containerized cargo were carried last year.
Freight volumes are expected to surge by 30% to more than 300,000 containers by 2022, bringing new development opportunities to the industry.
With the support of the Chinese side, Belarus is building a new logistics and transshipment center to provide important transit services for Chinese and Asian goods to the EU market.
The center will convert between broad gauge (1,520 mm) and standard gauge (1,435 mm) and enable the mixing, sorting and delivery of goods to end customers or warehouses in Europe.
In addition, the new facility will promote the relocation of the manufacturing industry and create an industrial cluster, injecting new impetus into the economic development of Belarus and the European Union.
3.Thanksgiving feedback, leading the way to transit exclusive gifts. Belarus has always been grateful for China's support and has reciprocated in action. As an important node country of the Belt and Road Initiative, Belarus is willing to actively participate in it and contribute its own strength.
Belarus is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, so locally manufactured products can be considered Belarusian products and exported duty-free to other Eurasian Economic Union markets, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.
Belarus's unique proximity to major European markets and excellent transport links make it an ideal choice for companies looking for a manufacturing base.
In order to enhance its industrial strength, and at the same time help China's industrial transformation and development itself, Belarus** actively promotes the opening of the economy to China and provides a wealth of investment incentives.
As a result, a number of priority Chinese investment projects continue to rise, mainly in export-oriented, import-substitutable products or high-tech industries, such as information and communication technology, logistics system research and development, home appliances and electronics, and the production of electrical equipment.
To further promote these investments, Belarus** has also established the China-Belarus Free Economic Zone in six main regions: Brest, Gomel, Grodno, Minsk, Mogilev and Vitebsk.
For Chinese companies entering the local market for the first time, we offer a variety of customized incentives, including special incentives in the areas of corporate income tax, real estate tax and land tax.
According to the data, from 2011 to 2021, Chinese investment in Belarus increased from $19 million to $2US$3.2 billion, an increase of more than 11 times, which has largely driven the investment boom in the local manufacturing sector.
Among them, Midea Group and Belarusian Horizon JSC have been operating a joint venture in the Minsk Free Economic Zone since 2007 to produce products such as microwave ovens and water heaters.
In 2020, China Merchants Group, a state-owned enterprise headquartered in Hong Kong, joined the China-Belarus Industrial Park, also known as the Greatest Stone Industrial Park, which is expected to operate until 2062.
The construction of the Boulder Industrial Park can be seen as an important support and assistance from China for the economic development of Belarus.
Belarus offers attractive incentives for Chinese investors, including exemptions from corporate income tax, value-added tax, import value-added tax, real estate tax, land tax and dividend tax, which are unique in Belarus and therefore attract many Chinese companies to settle in.
At present, there are tenants such as ZTE, Huawei, Zoomlion, China Yituo Group, Hsinchu Group, Baolian Hua New Energy Group and Zhonggan International in the industrial park.
In addition, a number of companies focusing on composites, automotive coating technology and co-design are also planning to set up operations in the industrial park.
The construction of the Jushi Industrial Park is progressing smoothly, and the first phase has successfully completed the scheduled goals, and there are currently 27 enterprises in the park. It is expected that by the end of 2022, the second phase of construction will be completed, and the number of enterprises will increase to at least 35 by then.
By the completion of the third phase of construction in 2024, the number of enterprises is expected to reach 60 to 70. In addition to providing high-quality construction services, Belarus has also transferred some of its core technologies, such as heavy-duty truck technology, to us, providing strong technical support for our economic development.
Belarus has built up a strong industrial base during the Soviet era, and the quality of its products in a number of industries is renowned worldwide, such as machine building, chemicals, petrochemicals, light industry (textiles, knitwear, sewn products, footwear and household appliances) and food processing.
Belarusian companies have achieved remarkable results not only domestically, but also on the international market. For example, Polimaster's radiation sensing equipment accounts for 20% of the U.S. market, Belshina manufactures a wide range of global oversized tires, and Belaz produces the world's largest dump truck capable of carrying 496 tons of cargo.
In addition, Belarus is one of the world's leading producers of potash fertilizers, accounting for an estimated one-sixth of the world's potash production**. Belarusian IT products are also in the spotlight, such as Viber, the world's most popular cross-platform real-time messaging and web** application, where most of the research and development work is carried out.
In addition, the country's face-changing app MSSQRD and the online multiplayer game World of Tanks have also been widely acclaimed.
Belarusian technology pioneers are eager to cooperate with China in order to tap into more business opportunities. They see China's high-tech companies such as Huawei as ideal partners.
China's leading technology companies, such as Huawei, have the world's leading chains, which can help Belarusian technology companies transfer technology, commercialize intellectual property, and enter the vast Asian market.
At the same time, the Belarusian side is constantly sending their technology to our country.
In the context of today's great global changes, it is indeed rare for a country like Belarus to know how to be grateful to each other and treat others sincerely. Relations between China and Belarus are getting closer.
This is not only in line with China's "One Belt, One Road" strategy, but also helps Belarus to realize its development vision and promote the country's leapfrog development. China and Belarus are true friends, and our economic cooperation is a model of equality and mutual benefit, not the kind of hegemonic assistance.
Therefore, China-Belarus relations will only become more and more solid.