OREANDA-NEWS. November 06, 2012. The Belarusian head of government remarked that Belarus and China are approaching a new level of cooperation – investment cooperation. Therefore, Belarus is interested in more active arrival of Chinese banks on the Belarusian market. Capital diversification is as important as trade diversification, added the Prime Minister.

At present Belarus-China cooperation relies on a big package of investment projects, with the total volume of loans available to them at USD 16 billion. China makes direct investments in Belarus, too. Speaking about the Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park, Mikhail Myasnikovich stressed that it would be good if a relevant financial structure is set up in Belarus. He stated that the Belarusian government had passed several resolutions to support the project. The President of Belarus has also backed the project with considerable preferences for investors. Mikhail Myasnikovich said he was confident that the government of China will support the landmark unique project.

Belarus suggests that China should buy a Belarusian bank, said Prime Minister of Belarus Mr Mikhail Myasnikovich. “We could provide assistance with registering a Chinese bank in Belarus or could sell a Belarusian bank or a package of shares in one to Chinese commercial banks,” said Mikhail Myasnikovich. The money could actively work in Belarus, particularly in the Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park, stressed the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister also evaluated regional cooperation with provinces and cities of China and thanked the Harbin City Mayor for it. Good relations have been established with the Chinese city. Apart from trade and economic relations Belarus and China have established a high level of scientific and technical cooperation. Many joint projects are being implemented in this area.

At the meeting Mikhail Myasnikovich and Jiang Yaoping discussed the structure of consumer imports from China. The Prime Minister of Belarus suggested considering better ways to organize the export of Chinese consumer goods to Belarus. “Unfortunately, your products come to Belarus via multiple mediators, via other countries. We could suggest a slightly different scheme that would benefit both you and us,” said Mikhail Myasnikovich.

He thanked the government of China for the technical aid and humanitarian aid rendered to Belarus to minimize consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe. The Belarusian head of government evaluated Belarus-China cooperation as successful. “Cooperation with Great China is a priority in Belarus’ foreign economic activities,” he said.

The Belarusian-Chinese intergovernmental commission plays an important role in it. The 13th session of the commission took place in Minsk on 30 October. “The body does a lot of work. It handles all the future and current cooperation matters that later transform into government resolutions,” said Mikhail Myasnikovich.

Deputy Commerce Minister of China Jiang Yaoping, who is the co-chairman of the Chinese part of the commission, also underlined the importance of the commission’s work in enhancing the trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.