Snopkov: China is among key trade, investment partners for Belarus
08.06.2026
MINSK (
BelTA) – Belarus regards China as a partner in joint development and in building sustainable supply chains from raw materials to finished goods, Belarus’ First Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Snopkov said at the opening of the forum “Export of Belarusian Goods to China”. The event took place at the Minsk International Exhibition Center on the sidelines of the Belagro 2026 exhibition, BelTA has learned.
Over recent years, the cooperation between Belarus and China has evolved from traditional trade into a multidimensional economic partnership. In the past decade, bilateral trade turnover has tripled, while Belarusian exports to China have doubled. Nikolai Snopkov emphasized that China is among Belarus’ most important trade and investment partners, and that Belarus, in turn, is recognized as a reliable supplier to the Chinese market.
Nikolai Snopkov noted that today’s forum is the first to be held as part of the People’s Republic of China’s ambitious initiative “Big Market For All: Export to China”. The forum sets ambitious goals for deepening bilateral cooperation.
“Belarus has an open economy,” Nikolai Snopkov explained. “Sixty percent of our GDP comes from exports. We trade with more than 150 countries around the world and broaden our range of exported goods every year. The Chinese direction in this strategy is among the most important.”
According to Nikolai Snopkov, Belarus’ export landscape blends both traditional markets and new opportunities. “First, Belarus is a global leader in potash fertilizer production, consistently ranking in the top three. This is a strategic resource for global food security. We are interested in long-term contracts with Chinese buyers, as well as in joint logistics and infrastructure projects in this area. Second, mechanical engineering. Our brands are well known far beyond our borders. BelAZ mining trucks hold a significant share of the global market and enjoy a leading position worldwide. Minsk Tractor Works maintains a strong presence in the global wheeled tractor market. We see tremendous potential in setting up assembly and service centers with Chinese partners, tailoring our equipment to the needs of China’s regions, and collaborating with Chinese partners for third country markets,” Nikolai Snopkov said.
The third key area is wood processing and high value added products such as lumber, panels, packaging, cardboard, and finished goods. Existing Belarusian-Chinese projects in the pulp and paper industry have already shown that combining Belarus’ raw materials with Chinese technology yields a highly competitive export product.
One third of Belarus’ exports consist of food products. “Our greatest competitive advantage lies in our high quality and biosecurity standards, which Chinese partners greatly appreciate,” Nikolai Snopkov noted. “We see potential for attracting Chinese investment into our agricultural sector and for pursuing joint projects with Chinese partners to expand production capacity and deepen processing capabilities. This is not just about increasing bilateral trade, but about rethinking the very foundation of our cooperation.”
Nikolai Snopkov emphasized that Belarus and China have already built a framework of comprehensive strategic partnership, and the task now is to fill it with fresh, long lasting industrial cooperation.
“Every new trade project becomes a link in a shared production and cooperation chain between our countries,” Nikolai Snopkov observed. “Belarus offers Chinese partners a complete package for joint development: a convenient geographic position at the crossroads of major transport corridors, well-developed rail and road infrastructure, and access to the markets of the Eurasian Economic Union and neighboring countries.”
Nikolai Snopkov added that Belarus is doing everything possible to accommodate Chinese business interests in creating a welcoming business climate. “Our country has become one of the key platforms for the Belt and Road Initiative in the region. We plan to strengthen this role further by expanding warehousing and logistics infrastructure to support joint trade.”
Nikolai Snopkov also recalled that more than 30 cooperation agreements have been signed between Belarusian regions and Chinese counterparts, a mutual visa free regime is in place, and both tourism and business exchanges continue to grow.
“Sincerity and friendship are the greatest strategic resources between our nations,” Nikolai Snopkov said. “We see our future not as exporter and importer, but as true partners in joint development, technology exchange, and building sustainable supply chains from raw materials to finished products on store shelves. Belarus is ready to offer Chinese business a reliable and solid platform in Eurasia. And for Belarusian companies, China represents a key growth market for the next ten years.”
Nikolai Snopkov invited forum participants to use this platform to move from intentions to contracts, from one-time shipments to long-term programs, and from ordinary trade to the creation of joint production and trading platforms.
Over recent years, the cooperation between Belarus and China has evolved from traditional trade into a multidimensional economic partnership. In the past decade, bilateral trade turnover has tripled, while Belarusian exports to China have doubled. Nikolai Snopkov emphasized that China is among Belarus’ most important trade and investment partners, and that Belarus, in turn, is recognized as a reliable supplier to the Chinese market.
Nikolai Snopkov noted that today’s forum is the first to be held as part of the People’s Republic of China’s ambitious initiative “Big Market For All: Export to China”. The forum sets ambitious goals for deepening bilateral cooperation.
“Belarus has an open economy,” Nikolai Snopkov explained. “Sixty percent of our GDP comes from exports. We trade with more than 150 countries around the world and broaden our range of exported goods every year. The Chinese direction in this strategy is among the most important.”
According to Nikolai Snopkov, Belarus’ export landscape blends both traditional markets and new opportunities. “First, Belarus is a global leader in potash fertilizer production, consistently ranking in the top three. This is a strategic resource for global food security. We are interested in long-term contracts with Chinese buyers, as well as in joint logistics and infrastructure projects in this area. Second, mechanical engineering. Our brands are well known far beyond our borders. BelAZ mining trucks hold a significant share of the global market and enjoy a leading position worldwide. Minsk Tractor Works maintains a strong presence in the global wheeled tractor market. We see tremendous potential in setting up assembly and service centers with Chinese partners, tailoring our equipment to the needs of China’s regions, and collaborating with Chinese partners for third country markets,” Nikolai Snopkov said.
The third key area is wood processing and high value added products such as lumber, panels, packaging, cardboard, and finished goods. Existing Belarusian-Chinese projects in the pulp and paper industry have already shown that combining Belarus’ raw materials with Chinese technology yields a highly competitive export product.
One third of Belarus’ exports consist of food products. “Our greatest competitive advantage lies in our high quality and biosecurity standards, which Chinese partners greatly appreciate,” Nikolai Snopkov noted. “We see potential for attracting Chinese investment into our agricultural sector and for pursuing joint projects with Chinese partners to expand production capacity and deepen processing capabilities. This is not just about increasing bilateral trade, but about rethinking the very foundation of our cooperation.”
Nikolai Snopkov emphasized that Belarus and China have already built a framework of comprehensive strategic partnership, and the task now is to fill it with fresh, long lasting industrial cooperation.
“Every new trade project becomes a link in a shared production and cooperation chain between our countries,” Nikolai Snopkov observed. “Belarus offers Chinese partners a complete package for joint development: a convenient geographic position at the crossroads of major transport corridors, well-developed rail and road infrastructure, and access to the markets of the Eurasian Economic Union and neighboring countries.”
Nikolai Snopkov added that Belarus is doing everything possible to accommodate Chinese business interests in creating a welcoming business climate. “Our country has become one of the key platforms for the Belt and Road Initiative in the region. We plan to strengthen this role further by expanding warehousing and logistics infrastructure to support joint trade.”
Nikolai Snopkov also recalled that more than 30 cooperation agreements have been signed between Belarusian regions and Chinese counterparts, a mutual visa free regime is in place, and both tourism and business exchanges continue to grow.
“Sincerity and friendship are the greatest strategic resources between our nations,” Nikolai Snopkov said. “We see our future not as exporter and importer, but as true partners in joint development, technology exchange, and building sustainable supply chains from raw materials to finished products on store shelves. Belarus is ready to offer Chinese business a reliable and solid platform in Eurasia. And for Belarusian companies, China represents a key growth market for the next ten years.”
Nikolai Snopkov invited forum participants to use this platform to move from intentions to contracts, from one-time shipments to long-term programs, and from ordinary trade to the creation of joint production and trading platforms.