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Lukashenka thanks China for Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park

 

Alyaksandr Lukashenka expressed gratitude to the leadership of China for agreeing to take on the Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park project, while speaking to reporters in Minsk on Friday.

"Many wanted such a park to be built in their country, including the Ukrainians and the Russians, but the Chinese decided to work with us," the Belarusian leader said. “That is why we should thank the Chinese side for choosing our country for the project.”

The establishment of the Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park is one of the most important joint projects of Belarus and China, which will draw companies from throughout the world and the most advanced technologies, Mr. Lukashenka noted. "We don't need ‘screwdriver-assembly’ type plants,” he said. "We want someone to come and bring along a high-tech product, which we would sell to Europe and America."

“We have high-skilled labor and high-level education. If someone comes to us – and we are offering certain preferences for this purpose – we would like them to bring hi-tech products here,” Mr. Lukashenka said.

“Moreover, the president of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, said during talks that they were ready to develop, design, manufacture and sell products here. In other words, they are ready to organize a full cycle here. Secondly, these should be high-technology products. This is what we need.”

“Experts estimate that this will annually yield some $50 billion worth of export products,” Mr. Lukashenka said. “This equals the amount we produce and export today. If this happens, we will not have any shortages of foreign currency. That is why we need this industrial park very much to draw investment from high-tech companies so that we will be able to make a breakthrough,”

Mr. Lukashenka pointed out that the residents of the Minsk region’s Smalyavichy district where the park would be built should not worry. “There is no need to allege that there is not enough land or something else. Everyone will get enough of everything. We are not going to infringe on our people’s interests or mistreat them,” he said. “If someone finds it inconvenient to live next to this park, we will provide them with better land in order not to hurt them.” // BelaPAN