Łukašenka demands more ambitious targets for trade with China

January 27, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka criticized officials for failing to do enough to attract investment from China.

Although the government reported that investment more than doubled to $443 million in the first nine months of 2025, he said the figure fell short of the $500 million annual target, according to his press office.

“When I see numbers for direct Chinese investments in regions — $1 million in Viciebsk and $100 in Hrodna over five years — it becomes clear who works how. Not only with China, but in general,” he was quoted as saying.

The Belarusian ruler described China as a pivot “during tectonic geopolitical changes.”

“We will always cooperate with China as long as our country exists as a self-sufficient, independent state. I am sure that we will be an independent and sovereign state forever,” he said.

He expressed hope for an increase in tourist flows following the expansion of passenger air service with Hainan, Shanghai and Urumqi.

Łukašenka also expressed satisfaction that Belarus’ exports to China had surpassed sales to the European Union, adding that “this is for the long term.”

However, he said exports of about $1.7 billion in 2025, accounting for four percent of total exports, were “very little even by Belarusian standards.” He added that China’s share of Belarusian exports should reach double digits and demanded that the government set such a target in its directive for the next five years.

Belarus’ trade with China tripled in the the last 10 years from $2.5 billion to $8.9 billion in the first 11 months of 2025, said Mikałaj Snapkoŭ, first deputy prime minister. Exports to China outpaced exports to Russia in the last five years growing at an average rate of 17 percent.

China accounted for 30 percent of Belarus’ exports of potash, 45 percent of rape seed oil, 50 percent of flax, 33 percent of lumber and 37 percent of whey.

China contributed 10 percent of Belarus’ economic growth in the last 10 years.

Economy

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