OREANDA-NEWS. September 11, 2008. The trade between Belarus and China can reach USD1.5 billion in 2008, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky said at a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China Hu Hongbin. The meeting was held in view of the expiry of the diplomat’s term in office, reported the Official website www.government.by.

The Prime Minister thanked the Ambassador for the work and contribution to the strengthening of bilateral cooperation. According Sergei Sidorsky, an important event in the relations between Belarus and China was the exchange of delegations at the highest level.

Sergei Sidorsky said that trade and economic relations of the two counties have been rapidly developing and the level of trade has already exceeded USD1 billion. “I think that this year we will have the trade of USD 1.5 billion,” he said. The Prime Minister took note of the successful cooperation of the two countries in the credit and monetary area. “We have reached a level when yuan has become a convertible currency in Belarus. Much has been done to make sure that the projects we have conceived have become reality. Today they are being implemented,” he said.

Sergei Sidorsky is confident that the constructive dialogue to develop economic and political relations with China will be further continued.

On his part Hu Hongbin said that the trade and economic cooperation of the two countries has gathered pace in recent years. According to him, China values highly Belarus’ domestic and foreign policy. “In recent years a lot has been done in Belarus in social and economic development and this is not surprising. I am happy for the successes of the Belarusian people and I am sure new achievements are on the way,” the Ambassador said.

He also said that a project to reconstruct the Minsk CHP-plant 2 has started. The reconstruction of cement works will be launched soon. These joint projects will give a new impetus to the development of trade and economic relations of Belarus and China, the diplomat believes.