Belarus and China Bolster Textile and Light Industry Cooperation in Guangzhou

In mid-November 2025, Belarus and China took significant steps to enhance their collaboration in the textile, manufacturing, and light industry sectors. A key meeting in Guangzhou brought together Konstantin Golovko, the Belarusian Consul General, and the leadership of Guangda Business and Trade City, a prominent Chinese textile cluster. The discussions focused on deepening economic ties and exploring new avenues for commercial partnership between the two nations.

Strategic Discussions on Trade and Manufacturing

During the meeting, held around November 13-15, 2025, both sides engaged in comprehensive talks aimed at expanding cooperation across various facets of trade, manufacturing, and light industry. The Belarusian delegation specifically highlighted opportunities for collaboration with major enterprises within Belarus's robust textile and leather sectors. This initiative underscores Belarus's strategic intent to increase its presence and export volume in the vast Chinese market, building on China's position as Belarus's second-largest trading partner.

Guangda Business and Trade City: A Hub for Collaboration

The choice of Guangda Business and Trade City as the venue for these discussions reflects its critical role in China's light industry. This expansive cluster, located in southern China, spans an impressive 500,000 square meters and serves as a central hub for businesses dealing in:

• Apparel
• Footwear
• Leather goods
• Bags
• Household chemical products

The leadership of Guangda Business and Trade City expressed keen interest in the proposed cooperation, signaling their readiness to host a delegation of Belarusian companies. This forthcoming visit will facilitate deeper consultations, on-ground assessments, and the identification of practical avenues for commercial partnerships, supply chain integration, and product diversification.

Broader Context of Bilateral Relations

The Consulate General of Belarus in Guangzhou plays a crucial role in fostering these economic relationships. Its consular district is vast, encompassing five major Chinese regions: Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. This area covers approximately 1.23 million square kilometers and is home to around 332 million people, representing nearly 23 percent of China's total population. Guangzhou itself is a major commercial center with approximately 14 million residents. The Consulate General's primary responsibilities include strengthening trade, investment, and industrial ties between Belarus and these Chinese provinces, alongside safeguarding the rights of Belarusian nationals and providing consular services to Chinese citizens.

Outlook for Future Cooperation

This recent meeting signifies a continued commitment from both Belarus and China to strengthen their economic partnership, particularly in the light industry and textile sectors. The readiness of Guangda Business and Trade City to welcome Belarusian enterprises for further engagement suggests a promising trajectory for increased trade volume, joint manufacturing ventures, and enhanced supply chain integration between the two countries.