Negotiations between the head of the Soviet district administration and the chairman of the People’s Government of the Changnin District of Shanghai (PRC) took place on September 11.

The main platform for negotiations was gymnasia No. 23 with the Belarusian language of teaching, which was visited by a foreign delegation. The place for the meeting was chosen with particular conditions: here since 2006 the students have been studying Chinese and the culture of the Middle Kingdom (from the first form). Chinese native speakers are among the teaching staff.

During the talks, the head of the Soviet district administration, Yury Trushchenko, and the chairman of the People’s Government of the Changnin District of Shanghai, Gu Honghui, discussed the socio-economic development of their districts and the main areas of interaction. As a result, a Framework Cooperation Agreement was signed between the administration of the Soviet district of Minsk and the People’s Government of the Changnin district of Shanghai.

The guests were also presented a number of enterprises of the Soviet district, which, provide support services for the business of foreign companies in Belarus. They also develop and manufacture high-tech equipment, holographic products, telecommunication equipment and provide medical services.

The program of the visit also included a visit by the foreign delegation to the Scientific and Technological Park of the BNTU “Polytechnic”, the Central Department Store and a sightseeing tour of the Soviet District.

- Our cooperation has a long history. Now we want to strengthen it and contribute to further development,” Gu Honghui said after the talks. - One of the important areas of interaction is cultural exchange and the teaching of Chinese. This will help strengthen friendship between our peoples.

The chairman of the People’s Government of Changnin District of Shanghai called entrepreneurial activity and exchange of experience in this sphere another area of cooperation.

- Another interest is the exchange of experience in the management of areas. There is much in common between them both geographically - both affect the central parts of their cities, and in their approaches to administration, said Gu Honghui.

He also invited the head of the Soviet District of Minsk as part of the delegation to visit the Changnin district of Shanghai with a business visit.

- “We signed a framework agreement on friendly cooperation. We hope that we will be able to realize our plans for the benefit of the peoples of China and Belarus”, Gu Honghui added.

As Y. Trushchenko said, cooperation between the two regions began in 1994, when the first cooperation agreement was signed:

- During this time, our trade has increased significantly. In particular, last year’s exports of services to the People’s Republic of China exceeded $2000000; the export of goods overcame the point of $1000000. Every year the number of enterprises that interact with China and with the Changnin district of Shanghai in particular is growing. Today, representatives of five enterprises of the Soviet district will tell guests about themselves and offer their services.

By the way, a separate section devoted to proposals for cooperation with companies in China will appear on the website of the Soviet district administration. The section will be in Russian, English and Chinese.

“We have decided on the main directions of further cooperation,” Y. Trushchenko added. – These are education, science, culture, sports, tourism, and, of course, the economy. The meeting will give a new impulse to the development of our relations: in the next few years we will double and perhaps triple the foreign trade’s turnover with the People’s Republic of China.

Following the presentations of the enterprises, Y. Trushchenko noted that the Soviet District is extremely interested both in promoting products to the Chinese market and in attracting investments with the aim of creating joint ventures and implementing projects.

However, today it is not only about the economy, because cooperation in this area begins and can develop successfully, providing that the partner’s language and culture of the country are known. Visitors of the Gymnasia No23 were traditionally welcomed, told about the features of the educational process and the successes achieved in it, invited to the Museum of the History of the Soviet District, which was created on the basis of an educational institution. The conversation was sometimes conducted without a translator which is a sign that the parties have found a common language.

According to UE "Minsk-News Agency"