“Belarus and China’s policies are similar”: Beijing and Minsk will create free trade zone this year

Today, on March 1, a “mutual memorandum of understanding” was signed between the Ministry of Economy of Belarus and the Ministry of Commerce of China in Beijing. The press service of the Belarusian economic department writes that the next step should be the creation of a free trade zone.

As stated, a free trade and investment zone should be established in China and Belarus before the end of this year.

At a meeting in Beijing, the Belarusian and Chinese sides agreed on the need to immediately start negotiations on access to service markets.

Alexander Lukashenko, who flew to China for an official visit on February 28, said in a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping that the domestic policies of the two states are similar.

He commented, “In general, the policy both within China and within Belarus is similar. We fully support the international agenda, we act along the same lines.”

The Belarusian politician also stressed that Minsk “fully” supports Beijing in international security issues.

Lukashenka noted that the meeting in China took place at a very difficult time, requiring “new non-standard approaches and responsible political decisions.”

“Them [решения] it should first aim to prevent slipping into a global conflict in which there will be no winners. Belarusian politician, you have recently expressed this openly, clearly, punctually by addressing the world community”.

As Lukashenka said in the meeting, Minsk is extremely interested in expanding its contacts with China and the potential for bilateral agreements is very high.

Recall that the official visit of Alexander Lukashenko to China became known on February 25.

A February 28 report from the Institute for War Studies suggests that Lukashenko may have been involved in formulating plans to circumvent sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation in connection with the military attack on Ukraine as part of his official visit to China.