Changsha inks co-op deal with Belarus’ Mogilev
Changsha, the capital city o f C e n t r a l C h i n a ’s Hu n a n province, recently reached an agreement for friendly relations with Mogilev, the thirdlargest city of Belarus and the capital city of Mogilev province.
The signing ceremony was held at the Mogilev provincial congress hall on June 30, on the sidelines of the Changsha-Mogilev Fair for Friendly Exchange and Business Cooperation.
According to the agreement, the two cities will have close cooperation in such fields as business, culture, tourism and education.
Belarus is an important countr y related to the Belt and Road Initiative. Since the initiative was proposed by the Chinese government in 2013, business ties between the two countries have increased substantially.
Amid deepening cooperation, Hunan and Mogilev provinces signed an agreement for friendly relations in April.
Business ties between Changsha and Mogilev, capital cities of the two provinces, have also seen steady growth.
A number of renowned companies from Changsha, including construction and building machine company Zoomlion, Bosch Automotive Pr o d u c t s C h a n g s h a , Tr u k - ing Technolog y, Dechuang Instrument and Xiaoxiang Tea Industry, have established operations in Mogilev city and the rest of Belarus.
Zoomlion is one of the first companies from Changsha to do business in Belarus.
It began to take part in the construction of the ChinaBelarus Industrial Park in Mogilev city in 2015.
With the help of Zoomlion, the Changsha business representative office was established on June 30 in the industrial park.
“We will make full use of our resources here to help more companies from Changsha city and Hunan province to settle in Belarus,” said an executive responsible for Zoomlion’s operations in Belarus.
The executive said Zoomlion and MAZ — a renowned local truck and building machine manufacturer — founded a joint venture in Belarus last year. He said the joint venture will focus on localized assembly and production for construction machines based on Zoomlion’s technologies.
He added that a construction machiner y production chain is expected to be formed, a goal that will involve the participation of more enterprises from both Belarus and China.
from Changsha had talked with local companies and governments in Mogilev for trade and investment cooperation the amount of trade between Changsha and Belarus in 2016
During the Changsha-Mogilev Fair for Friendly Exchange and Business Cooperation, more than 30 companies from Changsha had talked with local companies and governments in Mogilev for trade and investment cooperation.
The negotiated investment projects covered such fields as fireworks production, timber processing, construction of manufactured houses, machine building , hotels, electronics and energy-saving equipment.
During the fair, Changshabased Broad Homes Industrial International decided to donate eight units of manufactured homes to Mogilev city to help improve housing for local families with financial difficulties.
Changsha’s retail giant Better Life Group also signed agreements with local dairy companies to sell their products to Hunan as well as the rest of China.
Changsha’s local produce, including fireworks, ceramics and tea, were also exhibited at the fair.
When visiting a show of Hunan teas, a Belarusian girl named Irena said she was deeply impressed by the products.
“Just like coffee, it has a magic taste,” she said.
More than 10 tea companies from Changsha displayed their products at the fair.
An official from the Changsha bureau of commerce said the city ’s products are well received in Belarus.
Since the opening of direct Hunan-Europe freight rail transport — which passes through Belarus — in 2015, trade between Changsha and Belarus has become more convenient.
T h e b u r e a u o ff i c i a l s a i d trade between Changsha and Belarus totaled $6.8 million last year. Changsha’s exports mainly include machines, electronics, fireworks, automotive components and food and beverage products.