The scope of China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative is actually huge and multifaceted. A notable instance is the current cargo of three tons of products (comprising 25 product sorts) from Belarus to China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) by the Khorgos checkpoint—marking the primary such incidence in historical past.
In this context, it’s price noting that China’s exports to Belarus reached $6.6 billion in 2024. However, Belarus’s exports to China are way more modest. The peak yr was 2023, when Belarusian exports to China amounted to $2.6 billion. In January–April 2025, exports to China elevated by 4% (about $680 million), whereas imports grew by 12% (practically $2 billion).
China exports not solely client items to Belarus but in addition important technological tools. Moreover, Beijing has grow to be a significant associate for Belarus in infrastructure improvement by offering loans to finance the development of cement vegetation, Olympic-level stadiums, and different amenities. Amid declining commerce volumes with the West as a consequence of sanctions, China has grow to be an alternate supply for Belarus to import know-how, tools, and uncooked supplies. Additionally, China has served as a channel for delivering sanctioned items into Belarus.
Photo: Open supply
It is due to this fact unsurprising that, in line with Belarusian Foreign Minister Maksim Ryzhenkov, the nation’s commerce turnover with China in 2025 might double that of its commerce with the European Union—“a determine that was most likely 3 times decrease simply 4 years in the past.”
China additionally stays the most important purchaser of Belarusian potash. Minsk is aiming to increase its exports of meals and agricultural merchandise to China. The Belarusian authorities has recognized round 70 potential joint initiatives to enrich the prevailing portfolio of enterprise initiatives.
The largest joint endeavor between Belarus and China is the China-Belarus Industrial Park “Great Stone,” thought-about a key part of the financial belt of the brand new Silk Road. It is envisioned as a future eco-city with a particular authorized standing, optimum circumstances for doing enterprise, and modern manufacturing with excessive export potential.
Regional cooperation performs a definite function in China-Belarus relations. According to Belarusian Economy Minister Yuri Chebotar, “every area and the capital of Belarus has about three sister areas in China,” supported by a broad authorized and contractual framework. The Research Institute of the Ministry of Economy of Belarus stories that Belarusian producers of prescription drugs, computing, digital and optical gadgets, and equipment are essentially the most lively individuals in industrial cooperation with Chinese counterparts. From Chinese provinces, Belarus imports semi-finished merchandise and elements.
Source: TV Brics
For instance, Minsk signed a memorandum of partnership with Qingdao, specializing in city digitization applied sciences and built-in options for managing the city setting, together with waste processing.
The Vitebsk area signed a cooperation plan for 2025–2027 with China’s Heilongjiang province. Gansu province, in flip, has established sister relationships with the Grodno area and a number of other Belarusian cities. Investment initiatives equivalent to SIGICOP are underway in Belarus, and a large-scale eco-farm has been developed by Gansu Machinery. The Chinese Medicine Center established in Grodno by Gansu was the primary of its form in Belarus. During a world sister-city discussion board held in Shandong this May, Belarus signed contracts with Chinese counterparts price practically $100 million. That identical spring, a delegation from Belarus’s Mogilev area participated within the twenty second meals exhibition in Luohe, Henan Province.
Cultural alternate is a very vibrant side of regional cooperation. On July 20, an occasion titled “Month of Exchange between Qingdao and Sister Cities” was launched in Minsk. Additionally, by the Chinese Embassy and Chinese Cultural Center in Belarus, varied cultural occasions are frequently organized, such because the Spring Festival, Chinese Language Day, and exhibitions of conventional and up to date Chinese artwork. National delicacies festivals and utilized arts gala’s are additionally frequent. Belarus hosts six (!) Confucius Institutes, which promote intercultural dialogue, strengthen tutorial and scientific ties, and assist joint analysis and academic initiatives.
Source:South China Morning Post
In this mild, the arrival of Belarusian items for the primary time in XUAR through the Khorgos checkpoint—talked about at the beginning of this text—is not any coincidence. Given the plans introduced in July to enhance logistics and rail transportation between Beijing and Minsk by worldwide corridors, this route is poised for additional improvement.
