In a significant move to bolster Eurasian economic ties, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng has called for enhanced cooperation between China and Belarus to promote trade, investment, and connectivity. Speaking in Minsk on Sunday, Vice President Han emphasized the importance of joint efforts to build an open world economy amidst a shifting global landscape.
The remarks were delivered during the Belarus session of the "Big Market for All: Export to China" initiative. This program, launched last year, is designed to help trading partners expand their access to the market of the Chinese mainland, safeguard the multilateral trading system, and inject positive momentum into global economic growth.
Three Decades of Partnership
Vice President Han noted that China and Belarus have maintained an enduring friendship for thirty years since the establishment of diplomatic relations. He highlighted that a meeting between the two nations' leaders in August 2025 charted a new course for bilateral ties, providing fresh momentum for cooperation across multiple sectors.
Acknowledging the profound changes in the global political and economic environment, Han observed that many countries are currently facing growing challenges regarding development and free trade. In this context, he described Belarus as a pivotal economic and trade partner within the Eurasian region.
Strategic Focus and Digital Growth
To address these challenges, China has expressed a willingness to further strengthen policy coordination and industrial cooperation with Belarus. Key areas of focus include:
- Facilitating smoother trade flows and expanding bilateral trade volumes.
- Fostering innovative forms of digital economy cooperation.
- Improving the operational efficiency of China-Europe freight train services.
These strategic initiatives are expected to create favorable conditions for sustained trade growth and contribute to a more transparent and open global economic system.
A New Chapter: The 15th Five-Year Plan
Vice President Han underscored that 2026 marks the inaugural year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan period. He reaffirmed China's steadfast commitment to its basic national policy of opening-up, stating that China will continue to share development opportunities with the global community to pursue common prosperity.
The Minsk event stands as the first overseas session of the "Big Market for All" initiative in 2026. The session saw active participation from more than 40 Chinese companies and over 200 Belarusian enterprises in business matchmaking activities, opening new channels for Belarusian products to reach consumers in the Chinese mainland. Vice President Han concluded by welcoming Belarusian businesses to seize these market opportunities to achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
Reference(s):
Han Zheng calls for joint efforts to build an open world economy
cgtn.com
