Belarus diversifies exports to China

       Belarus has stepped up efforts to diversify exports to China, the Counselor with the Asia and Africa Department of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus Mr Valery Matsel said at the first Belarusian-Chinese seminar on industrial and sci-tech cooperation in Minsk.
     "Belarus has significantly intensified efforts to diversify exports to China, to increase the share of sophisticated machinery and high-tech goods, to get away from the mono-goods, which accounted for 70 to 80% of Belarusian exports to China,” said Valery Matsel. He noted that in recent years Belarus has consistently had a big trade deficit with China. "We are not happy about it. But there is an objective reason, which is the rapid development of bilateral credit and investment cooperation, and implementation of multi-million investment projects in Belarus involving Chinese credits,” said Valery Matsel. According to him, this is the reason why large amounts of Chinese equipment, components are brought to Belarus, which contributes to the growth of Chinese exports in Belarus.
      According to the Foreign Ministry, in January-November 2012, the merchandise trade of Belarus with China went up by 6% as against January-November 2011 to over $2.5 billion.