On May 12, 2023, a grand flag-raising ceremony was held at the China-Belarus Industrial Park, located near Minsk National Airport in the eastern outskirts of Minsk, the capital of Belarus, to celebrate the 8th anniversary of the inspection tour conducted by the leaders of China and Belarus at the park.
The China-Belarus Industrial Park is a Belt and Road cooperation project highly valued by the leaders of both countries and actively promoted by the two governments. It is China's largest overseas economic and trade cooperation zone in terms of planned area and the level of collaboration. This park stands as a landmark project of the Silk Road Economic Belt.
After years of development, the China-Belarus Industrial Park is emerging as an international new city that is suitable for industrial development, habitable and livable.
Office buildings and factories at the China-Belarus Industrial Park [Photo provided by China National Machinery Industry Corporation]
Building a well-equipped industrial park
Belarus, located at the geographical center of Europe, is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union. The products produced by enterprises in the park can be exported to countries such as Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia tariff-free.
The industrial park is adjacent to Minsk National Airport and offers easy access to International Highways, ensuring convenient logistics and transportation.
As a major shareholder in the China-Belarus Industrial Park Development Company and the main constructor of the park’s infrastructure, the China National Machinery Industry Corporation has cooperated closely with its partners to complete the infrastructure construction of the first phase, covering 8.5 square kilometers and including factories, power plants, high-rise buildings, and roads.
The park has attracted 108 enterprises from 15 countries worldwide, with a total agreed investment of $1.33 billion. Kirill, deputy general manager of the park development company, who has witnessed the development of the park, is full of confidence in its future development, saying that as the infrastructure continues to improve, more and more businesses and people will come, and the industrial park will become even better.
Being a great habitat in forests
Belarus is rich in natural resources and has a well-preserved environment, with the title of the "Land of a Thousand Lakes".
The China-Belarus Industrial Park is located in a dense forest area, with rivers, wilderness, animals, and plants creating a pleasant ecological environment.
As early as the initial research phase of the park, the planning team reached out to the Belarusian Ministry of Environmental Protection to understand the situation regarding water sources, animals, and forests in Belarus. Throughout the subsequent development process, the concept and principles of environmental protection were integrated into the design and construction. For instance, the wastewater discharge project in the park was constructed in strict accordance with fishery breeding standards.
In addition to emphasis on environmental protection, the industrial park made active efforts in the planning and protection of local villages. For the 15 villages in the park, as residents were reluctant to leave their homeland, the planning team retained the existing villages and incorporated them into the overall development plan of the park. The project planned a 300-meter-wide green belt to protect the village environment, provided the villages with access to water, electricity, and natural gas, and built roads. These considerations have seen the lives of villagers improve significantly.
In May 2019, the industrial park development company obtained the ISO 14001 international environmental management system certification, indicating that the park's environmental management level in relevant fields has reached international standards.
Becoming a new home for the future
At 8 a.m., Belarusian native Anna Alyushina boards the shuttle bus on time and heads to the China-Belarus Industrial Park, which is located more than 20 kilometers from downtown Minsk.
Alyushina is a senior translator at the China-Belarus Industrial Park Development Company and has been working there for six years. Now, she is also a mid-level manager responsible for all translation work at the company. She says that her job constantly exposes her to new knowledge and rapidly improves her abilities in various aspects.
The Chinese-built residential buildings and innovation center have been completed and put into use. The residential buildings are well-equipped to provide living support for park employees, while the innovation center has attracted many startups to settle in the area.
With more enterprises in the park, there are more job opportunities. Many young Belarusians choose to work here because they see the opportunities to improve their abilities and seize the future.
The park is becoming more and more like a new home. People from all over the world work and communicate seamlessly in Chinese, Russian, and English in the park.
Targeting at becoming a green, intelligent, and digital industrial park, the China-Belarus Industrial Park will continue to contribute to the industrial development and urban integration of Belarus.
(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)
