On 26 August the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted an opening ceremony of the Year of the Regions of Belarus and China for 2021-2022. Belarus' Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikolai Borisevich and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Belarus Xie Xiaoyong exchanged diplomatic notes, BelTA has learned.

The ceremony was also attended by Belarus' Deputy Economy Minister Anzhelika Nikitina. The exchange of the notes heralds the official start of the Year of the Regions and the entry into force of the corresponding action plan. The Year of the Regions might be extended through 2023.

The agreement to hold the Year of the Regions was reached during a telephone conversation between Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko and President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping in January. “The Year of the Regions of Belarus and China seeks to foster interregional cooperation,” the press service of the Belarusian leader said following the conversation.

The Year of the Regions is the third thematic year for Belarus and China. The year 2018 was declared the Year of Tourism, while 2019 was the Year of Education.

Written by belta.by