November, 21. An Agreement establishing the Chinese-Belarusian Association of Universities was signed in Minsk. 

Ihar Voitau, rector of Belarusian State Technological University took part in I Rectors’ Forum of Belarusian and Chinese universities held in the National Library of Belarus.

The Plenary Session was attended by Alexandr Bakhanovich, First Vice-Minister of Education and Xie Xiaoyong, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Belarus. ‘Today we are witnessing a historic event that remarkably highlights the commitments made by Alexandr Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus and Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China. To date 560 interuniversity agreements have been concluded between Belarusian and Chinese universities and this event will mark a step in the progress of our cooperation that is successfully developing in such areas as education, research and commercialization of our research findings’ said Alexandr Bakhanovich. 

He further noted that the Association and the activities to be held thereunder would benefit the economies of the two countries and strengthen the friendship between the nations.

The Association brings together 80 universities of China and Belarus. The Plenary Session was attended by Chinese and Belarusian rectors. The Forum agenda included further sessions, visits to Belarusian universities, bilateral meetings and discussions, etc. 

Currently the universities of Belarus and China are running over 40 double-degree programs and there are more initiatives underway. In the coming year Belarusian State Technological University and Dalian Polytechnic University will launch a BSTU-DPU Joint Institute embracing double-degree programs in Automation of Technological Processes and Production; Industrial Processing Machines and Equipment; Information Systems and Technology.