Belarus interested in academic partnerships with China
Jun. 26, 2024
MINSK, 25 June (BelTA) – Belarus counts on cooperation with China in personnel training, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Council Chair of Peking University Hao Ping and representatives of other Chinese universities on 25 June, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that Belarus has extensive expertise and knowledge and great competences in many areas.
The president noted: “Today we need to give momentum to such cooperation. This is the key to our scientific sovereignty and successful import substitution.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that Belarus has never hosted such a big delegation of heads of China’s leading higher education institutions before. “This is an excellent example of the high level of relations between Belarus and China, an indicator of increasingly vibrant cooperation not only in economy, but also in science, education, culture and other areas,” the head of state noted.
The president went on saying: “As far as I know, during their visit, the Chinese rectors will discuss student exchanges, interaction between the youth and contacts between universities. There are plans to sign an agreement on student exchanges and an initiative to promote cooperation in the field of fundamental science.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko believes that this will be a good addition to earlier agreements between universities of the two countries.
The president noted: “The Republic of Belarus is interested in scaling up academic partnerships with China across the board.”
The head of state emphasized that today such cooperation is taking on new significance, as Belarus and China are implementing cutting-edge projects in biotechnology, chemical and processing industries, in the production of unmanned aerial vehicles and electric vehicles.
Addressing the Chinese guests Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “I hope you will have a great time in Belarus and enjoy communicating with our people and discovering the rich historical heritage and original culture of the Belarusian people. I am sure that you will find great friends here and will want to visit our beautiful and hospitable country again. You are more than welcome in Belarus. You have got first-hand experience in Belarus. If you come here again, I will assume that you liked our country. We are always ready to meet with you at any level.”
The president invited all the participants of the meeting to discuss the most important issues on Belarus-China agenda. “If you have any questions for me, be it about economy or politics, I promise I will do my best to answer them in a candid and comprehensive way,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.
Addressing Hao Ping, the head of state noted: “A lot of time has passed since we met in China. We have many good humanitarian projects, including in sports and culture. We might start with Peking University and then we will invite your colleagues in attendance to join in on.” “We will be glad if our input is of service in this huge, promising, rapidly developing state. We rejoice at your successes more than anyone else. Therefore, I am ready to discuss any topic with you and make the necessary decisions,” the president noted.
The meeting brought together the heads of 15 Chinese universities, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Belarus Xie Xiaoyong, Belarusian Education Minister Andrei Ivanets and rectors of nine Belarusian universities, including regional ones. Among the participants are representatives of Peking University, Nankai University, Southeast University, Wuhan University, Jilin University, just to name a few.
A big delegation of university rectors from China arrived in Minsk to participate in the Belarus-China Forum of University Rectors. The program includes a plenary session and thematic sections, a joint concert of students from Belarusian State University and Peking University, negotiations between educational institutions of the two countries, and a visit to the China-Belarus Industrial Park Great Stone.
Source:
Belarusian Telegraph Agency
