{"id":127139,"date":"2025-02-20T17:10:25","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T14:10:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/127139\/"},"modified":"2025-02-20T17:10:28","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T14:10:28","slug":"belarus-china-trade-who-gains-the-most","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/127139\/","title":{"rendered":"Belarus-China trade: who gains the most?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

While Minsk has learned to navigate between the West and Russia, Belarusian officials still lack a coherent strategic vision for foreign trade.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n (Magda Ehlers \/ pexels.com)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lack of trade strategy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian economy, still burdened with the remnants of the 1990s, relies heavily on personal connections and opaque dealings. Many officials remain unfamiliar with how modern markets operate, and the government does not have a clear trade strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2020, Belarus abandoned its effort to counterbalance Russia by expanding economic ties with the European Union, as well as partners in Asia, Africa and the Americas. After that, the government intensified anti-Western rhetoric, vowing to redirect its trade flows eastward. Yet, it continues to trade with countries that have imposed sanctions on Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

China’s growing influence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

China has become a major trading partner for Belarus, expected to serve as a counterweight to both Russia and the European Union. It is a key buyer of Belarusian potash fertilizers and an important supplier of technology that is otherwise unavailable due to sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beijing\u2019s political role has also evolved: it now plays the role of “the big brother of the big brother.” Russia has never relied on the West as much as it relies on China now. Deprived of Western influence, Russia faces the overwhelming power of China dictating terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Belarus, deeply integrated into the Russian economy, its perception of China is largely shaped by its relationship with Moscow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beijing, which values long-term strategic planning, does not view the regime of Belarusian leader Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka, who has been in power for over 30 years, as something that lasts. Unlike Belarus, which struggles with short-term goals, China plans its economic policies for decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kiry\u0142 Rudyj, a former Belarusian ambassador to Beijing, wrote a book about Belarusian-Chinese relations. However, based on the state of bilateral trade, it appears that Minsk has not followed his advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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