Barys Zhaliba: China-town near Minsk is utopia project

Belarusian authorities do not understand the consequences of building a Chinese industrial center.

Such an opinion was expressed by an economist Barys Zhaliba as he commented for the charter97.org web-site on the construction of a Chinese town near Minsk.

“There is a number of issues, which cause doubts as to the necessity of these initiatives. The project is fairly large-scale, but it does not consider a number of things: for example, the factor of ecology. It is suggested to cut down large forest areas of important ecological significance. They are put into the first group category of forests”, - the scientist noted.

He also highlighted that the people’s preferences had not been considered.

“The authorities say that summer houses do not fall into the area to be demolished, but I believe that a part of summer houses and villages may be torn down. An important issue is whether the Chinese will bring modern technologies to Belarus, like the ones that there are in the West”, - the expert added.

The economist is sure that the project has not been developed enough.

“Journalists ask the authorities questions of what that will be and what that will bring. But we have not heard a clear answer from any official. I have an impression that the authorities themselves do not know whether there will be more benefit or harm from it”, - Barys Zhaliba noted.

The scientist emphasized that Belarus had already tried to implement similar projects with Iran.

“There were more talks, propaganda and advertisement, but in reality nothing worked out. And the risk is very high that this time it will be the same. One should not forget that Moscow does not like it. Belarus wants to make Geely cars together with China and count on the Russian market. But Russians made it very clear that they were not going to sell these cars in their market. Belarusian authorities deliberately develop the cooperation with China for some kind of their own satisfaction, in order to depend on Russia at least for 90%, not the whole 100%”, - Barys Zhaliba concluded.