The launch ceremony of the China (Shandong)-Belarus Cooperation Dialogue and the Shandong-Vitebsk Sister-city Cooperation Week was held in Jinan, capital of Shandong province, on Dec 1.

During the event, the leaders of China and Belarus will implement initiatives to hold the Year of China-Belarus Local Cooperation in 2021-2022, as well as deepen practical cooperation between the two sides.

Officials from Shandong and Belarus signed 10 cooperation agreements covering education, sister cities, science and technology, as well as economy and trade at the launch ceremony, which was held via online and offline channels.

The two sides will also hold a series of events, such as the photo exhibition of sister-city cooperation, educational cooperation seminars, economic and trade cooperation meetings, light industry cooperation meetings, as well as a Belarus oil painting art exhibition.

Official statistics show that the bilateral trade volume between China and Belarus has increased 87 times from $33.9 million at the beginning of the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992 to $3 billion today. China has remained Belarus's third largest trading partner for many years.

Trade between Shandong province and Belarus has maintained stable growth despite the adverse impact brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2020, the trade volume between Shandong and Belarus reached 1.9 billion yuan ($298.11 million), up 18.9 percent year-on-year, accounting for 9.7 percent of the total trade volume between China and Belarus.

From January to October this year, the import and export value between Shandong and Belarus reached 1.65 billion yuan, up 8.7 percent.

Shandong and Belarus have a solid foundation and great potential for cooperation in trade, two-way investment, as well as joint construction of industrial parks. The Qilu China-Europe freight train has made 2,991 trips to Minsk.

Belarus is one of the first countries to respond to and participate in the Belt and Road Initiative. The China-Belarus comprehensive strategic partnership has maintained sound and steady development. The friendly relations between Shandong and Vitebsk are a model of sister city cooperation, said Shandong officials, adding that the friendly relations will promote fruitful mutual cooperation in industry, science and technology, education, as well as people-to-people exchanges.