Belarus pledges to actively engage in China's "Belt and Road" initiative

Deputy Belarusian Minister Alexander Yaroshenko on Thursday said his country would active participate in the One Belt, One Road Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

While addressing a conference on Belarusian-Chinese cooperation held Thursday, Yaroshenko said China remains a key strategic and trade partner of Belarus, stressing Belarus is interested in developing cooperation with China.

Yaroshenko said that Belarus will work out details for cooperation with China in the implementation of the "Belt and Road Initiative" that contains the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road proposed back in 2013.

"Transport infrastructure, logistics, industrial cooperation, information and communication -- these are the key areas in which we are ready to actively develop cooperation with China while implementing the One Belt, One Road initiative," said Yaroshenko.

Belarus also attaches special importance to the development of microelectronics, fine chemicals, transport components, telecommunication equipment production.

According to the deputy minister, Belarus is also hoping to see closer cooperation with China through establishment of industries and enterprises by Chinese companies in direct investment.

Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park, which is known as "Great Stone," is now under construction in Minsk region. It is expected more big projects featuring Sino-Belarusian cooperation will be executed.

The trade between Belarus and China exceeded 3 billion U.S. dollars last year, up by 5.6 percent from 2014. Endit