disappointment at first.
Belarus, a country sandwiched between Europe and Asia, always gives people an awkward feeling. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, Belarus became independent like this. I thought I could catch my breath, but I suddenly fell into an economic pit. Factories shut down, prices soared, and people's lives were tight.
At that time, per capita GDP plummeted, less than one-third of that in the Soviet Union, and the state machine was almost unable to move. Lukashenko was a member of parliament at that time. He became president in July 1994, winning more than 80% of the votes, which was regarded as the will of the people. But after taking office, he was faced with a mess: state-owned enterprises accounted for the majority, the planned economy had a deep legacy, and the transition market economy? Easier said than done.
When Lukashenko saw that China's reform and opening up was booming, there were many factories in coastal cities, and the circulation of goods was smooth, he became interested. He visited China for the first time in 1995. After he returned, he bluntly spoke in the parliament, saying that we had to learn from China's experience, introduce some market mechanisms, and carry out privatization pilot projects. I thought this idea was reliable, but who knew that domestic conservatives went into a rage. The leaders of old state-owned enterprises thought it was a move to their cheese, and the trade unions also followed suit.
Russia is falsifying energy subsidies, Western countries are talking about ideology, the European Union is putting pressure on the United States, and the aid channels are completely blocked.
As a result, the country continues to live on Russian subsidies, and the economy is barely stable, but there are many hidden dangers. As soon as the Russian financial crisis spread in 1998, Belarus's exports were hit hard again, the ruble depreciated, and foreign exchange reserves were in a hurry. Lukashenko can only sign the alliance treaty in exchange for some breathing space, but this is not a long-term solution.
Looking back to the 2000s, Lukashenko re-elected several times, power stabilized, agriculture moved slightly, and industry was still the old way. State-owned enterprises were inefficient, unemployment was worried, natural gas prices rose, factory fuels did not follow. The 2004 parliamentary elections were controversial, Western sanctions followed, assets were frozen and travel banned, and the day was worse.
Lukashenko said in his mouth that to explore new paths, but practical action? or under the Russian wing to gather together. to say it clearly, the momentum of the Chinese reform in the early years, sprinkled by reality, the country is so dragged, the curve is getting longer and longer.
Lukashenko later said directly in the interview that he regretted that the intestines were blue.If early toothbite insisted and introduced the gradual reforms in China, Belarus might have turned early.
Now think, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, all countries became a pot, but China was steadfastly fighting, rising from the poverty line, relying on that pragmatism. What about Belarus? less resources, social division, public confidence in the government is low, reform conditions are not mature, hard to make sure to turn the car.
The storm awakens and turns the rudder east
After the 2008 global financial crisis, Russia itself was uninsured, and Belarus was even worse. The economic growth rate fell to the bottom, the enterprise lost one-fifth, the ruble devalued twice, the foreign exchange crisis was unprecedented. Supermarket prices doubled, the people complained. Lukashenko couldn't sit down, hurried to the central bank to tender, adjust the interest rate to invest, and steadily stand.
He turned to the West for money, borrowed more than $2.5 billion to the International Monetary Fund, and when he signed, he knew that it would hurt Russia, but it was not the case. The loan came, the bridge was repaired, a lot of additional conditions could be added, and the financial space was crushed.
At this time, China was moving forward steadily amid the crisis, launching a 4 trillion yuan stimulus, working overtime in factories, maintaining chaos in export chains, and helping other countries overcome difficulties. Lukashenko's eyes lit up. In the autumn of the same year, he led a team to visit China in a low-key manner and went to Pudong, Shenzhen to see how the high-tech park had transformed from a fishing village into a high-tech base. After returning, he was determined to develop an industrial park project and sign a cooperation agreement with China.
The domestic media laughed at his dreams, the parliament stubbornly shrugged the head, Lukashenko held up the pressure, in 2010 decided on the idea of the Central White Industrial Park, in 2011 the agreement was signed, in 2012 the foundation began.
At first, it was difficult, the capital chain was tight, and the construction site was once idle. But Lukashenko insisted on keeping an eye on the progress personally and not slackening in attracting investment. The first batch of enterprises settled in, such as electronics factories, auto parts and so on. As soon as the assembly line turned, the trade volume rose. In 2013, China launched the "the belt and road initiative", and Belarus was the first to support it, and the park became a European node.
The Central European line is opened, the long triangle is directly connected here, the Yueyu small commodity distribution market is built, the stalls are heated to the sky. Lukashenko's turn is the same as jumping out of Russia's single dependence, multi-cooperation is only seen in the day. In 2015, he re-elected, won more than eighty percent of the tickets, the park was completed 8.5 square kilometers in advance, the road was 30 kilometers, and the seven-way was complete.
This awakening came timely, and the crisis forced people to wake up. Lukashenko said in an interview that the biggest mistake was not listening to China's advice early and taking a detour for 30 years. What is so good about China's experience? Don't mess around, stabilize first and then change, and emphasize the supremacy of the people. Developing countries are sure to learn. What about Belarus? Climbing out of the financial turmoil depends on this eastward search. The park now has annual trade exceeding 5 billion yuan and tens of thousands of jobs. It is the largest logistics hub in Europe.
Work together to win the future
Today, China-White cooperation is hot, the industrial park has become the pearl of "One Belt and One Road", the European logistics center, the annual trade volume is more than 5 billion.The Belarusian economy is warming up and growing steadily, Chinese goods infiltrate the lives of the people, supermarket shelves in China are full of goods, and the street trains are widely seen.
Lukashenko re-elected in 2025, won eight-six votes in January, visited China in the South China Sea in June, spoke for more than two hours and deepened industry synergies. In August, he again attended the summit to protest the 80th anniversary of victory in the war. Lukashenko said it was the 16th visit to China, not to go, it was to go to China, the two countries were like a family, there were no differences.
Chinese technicians shared the experience of the development area, the Belarusians went to Tianjin, Suzhou, to study the hiring mechanism.In 2014, 3.5 billion were invested in the construction of a power station at the airport, the long runway at the Minsk airport and the power plant was stable.
The park has been expanded, all chemical wood processing machinery has been manufactured, trains have been diverted, and trade has continued during the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Lukashenko supported China's peaceful stance and raised China-Belarus cooperation in his speech at the United Nations, with applause. His son studied in Beijing and experienced the pragmatic spirit. When he came back, he said that the people of China are put first and worth learning.
This win-win situation is not empty talk. From the blueprint to the new city, the park has sharpened its sword in ten years. China not only gives money to technology, but also helps institutional innovation, pilot reform of state-owned enterprises, and balance market state-owned enterprises. The new growth point of Belarus's economy is here. Unemployment is falling, employment is increasing, and people's life is better. What about China? The export chain is stable, Yiwu European network has been built, and the transfer station is wide.
In the framework of the SCO, Belarus stands firm, and on the global diplomatic stage, China’s wisdom flashes. Lukashenko’s reflection has a meaning: listen to China early, benefit early. Developing countries look here, learn China’s gradual reform and avoid the curve.
Peaceful development is the king's way, and confrontation has no good results. Belarus relied on this joint efforts to rise from difficulties to new life. International cooperation is mutually beneficial, and China's path is down-to-earth and far-sighted. Lukashenko has been in power for 30 years. He has gone through detours and is now heading straight to the future. This story is worth telling.