International Forum of Business Contacts "Brest – China. Strategic Partnership" in Brest

On April 23–24, Brest hosted an international forum of business contacts "Brest – China. Strategic Partnership".

The Forum gathered about 250 participants – representatives of business circles, government agencies and organizations – from Belarus and several provinces of the People's Republic of China: Liaoning, Hubei, Anhui, Shanxi (twin cities of Brest Region), as well as Heilongjiang and Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong.

The forum of such format was organized in the regional center for the first time. The emphasis was placed on comprehensive cooperation between Brest Region and China. According to the chairman of Brest Regional Executive Committee Yuri Shuleiko, the International Forum of Business Contacts in Brest has always been among the brand events aimed at the development of interaction between business and the state. The fact that this year the organizers focused on the People's Republic of China underlines the high level of trust between Belarus and China. "Despite the fact that Brest Region trades with 88 countries of the world, the second largest partner of Brest Region in terms of foreign trade is China. Cooperation is carried out in all spheres: trade, logistics, education, culture, tourism and others," the head of the region emphasized.

On the first day of the forum a number of important strategic bilateral documents were signed, including a memorandum of cooperation between the Brest Branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Association of Chinese Companies.

The program of the forum included a plenary session "International Cooperation between Brest Region of the Republic of Belarus and the People's Republic of China", as well as discussion of issues of mutual interest in the framework of thematic sections.

Business circles from Belarus and China discussed the results and prospects of cooperation concerning industry, innovation, construction, logistics, education, healthcare, science, sports and tourism. In addition, the Chinese partners were presented with the economic potential of the "Brest" Free Economic Zone, its logistical opportunities, preferential conditions for residents, real areas of cooperation with Chinese partners, and promising investment projects.

On April 24, the Brest Branch of the BelCCI organized a contact and cooperation exchange within the framework of the forum, which was attended by representatives of more than 60 Belarusian and 25 Chinese companies. Belarusian participants had an opportunity to present their export potential and offer their Chinese partners promising areas of cooperation in various areas.

During the forum the guests from China also got acquainted with the infrastructure of Brest, visited industrial enterprises, health care, education, sports, as well as objects of natural, historical and cultural heritage of Brest Region.