China eyes closer economic, trade cooperation with Belarus

SOCHI, Russia - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Belarusian Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov here on Friday, saying he hopes that the two countries will make further efforts to tap cooperation potential in economy, trade and investment.

Since China and Belarus established diplomatic ties 25 years ago, the two countries have always treated each other with respect and interacted as equals, said Li, expressing the hope that the two countries will seek greater synergy between their development strategies and give full play to their complementary advantages.

Li called on both sides to cement cooperation on infrastructure construction and production capacity, and jointly explore new financing methods, with the construction of China-Belarus Industrial Park as a key project.

Li also urged closer people-to-people exchanges, especially between the youths of the two countries, saying both sides should actively cultivate new growth points for cooperation.

For his part, Kobyakov said Belarus supports the direction and measures of China's development, and is willing to actively align the two countries' development plans and make efforts to establish an all-weather friendship of cooperation.

Kobyakov said Belarus will attend the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai next year, speed up the construction of the Belarus-China Industrial Park, and further enhance bilateral cooperation on projects in areas of logistics and scientific innovation.

Kobyakov hoped the two sides to designate 2018 a Year of Tourism, so as to expand bilateral tourism cooperation and boost exchanges between the youths of the two countries.

Li arrived in Sochi Thursday morning to attend the 16th meeting of the Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of Government.

The SCO now comprises eight members, namely Pakistan, China, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.