Brest Oblast, China’s Hebei Province ready to cooperate in logistics, manufacturing, healthcare

BREST, 20 September (BelTA) – China’s Hebei Province is interested in advancing relations with Brest Oblast across the board. The possibilities were discussed during a meeting with a Chinese delegation at premises of the Brest Oblast Executive Committee on 20 September, BelTA has learned.

The first steps towards closer ties were made in November 2023 when an agreement was signed with an enterprise located in Hebei Province. The regions are intent on getting familiar with each other’s capabilities in detail in order to establish reliable ties. “We have contact points in logistics, manufacturing sector, healthcare, and education,” Deputy Chairman of the Brest Oblast Executive Committee Mikhail Batsenko said. “Today we will primarily discuss logistic opportunities. We will present the potential of the oblast. We will look for mutual interests in economy, social sphere, and tourism.”

The Chinese delegation was led by Deputy Director of the Commerce Department of Hebei Province Zhang Hecheng. He stressed he sees a lot of opportunities for all-round interaction.

According to Zhang Hecheng, Hebei Province could buy food products because the population is large and the demand for food is strong. “We can cooperate in metalworking. A lot of enterprises that make parts for automobiles, machines, and equipment operate in our province. Brest has a very well-developed logistic system. Our city Langfang is the largest logistic hub in China’s north. An express train also shuttles between China and Europe. Respectively the shipment of goods has great advantages,” Zhang Hecheng recounted. The establishment of tight ties with Langfang was also mentioned during the meeting.

Mikhail Batsenko suggested signing an agreement between Brest Oblast and Hebei Province in the future. The Chinese side backed the initiative. Working out a framework agreement for starters has been suggested.

So far Brest Oblast has signed partnership agreements with four provinces of China: Anhui, Hubei, Shanxi, and Liaoning. “We are interested in Chinese investments (in technologies, manufacturing, logistics). The relevant prospects are available. We’ve recently been to Liaoning Province. Certain agreements are already available. I am not going to disclose them. But we will get Chinese investments soon. It has been repeatedly mentioned that a major project is being implemented to make refrigerators in Baranovichi,” the deputy chairman of the Brest Oblast Executive Committee added.