Delegation of SAMI Took Part in the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition (Airshow China 2024)

In November, the 15th Airshow China 2024 was held in Zhuhai, China (Guangdong Province). This is the largest regional exhibition of aerospace technology held on even-numbered years. It showcased civil and military aircraft, airfield engineering, space technology, ground equipment, rocket and aircraft engines, missiles and aircraft weapons, navigation and flight control systems, airport equipment, training systems and air defence systems.

A delegation of the State Authority for Military Industry (SAMI) of the Republic of Belarus, headed by its Minister Dmitry Pantus, took part in the air show. On the margins of the forum, SAMI Minister held a number of talks with the heads of leading Chinese defence companies.

Thus, during his meeting with Major General Zhan Shixian, Deputy Head of the General Department of Armament and Military Equipment Development of the Central Military Council of the People’s Republic of China and Chairman of the Chinese part of the Belarusian-Chinese Coordination Committee for Cooperation in Armaments and Military Equipment, Dmitry Pantus discussed the current state of military-technical cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the People’s Republic of China. The parties noted the high level of the current cooperation between Belarusian and Chinese enterprises and stressed the importance of further development of cooperation, primarily in the development and creation of advanced high-tech weapons and military equipment.

During the talks with Zhao Chunchao, President of the Chinese aerospace international trading company “Long March” (ALIT), the parties exchanged views and proposals on the development of interaction in the sphere of military-technical cooperation, discussed current projects and outlined further steps of cooperation.

The first working day of the Minister of SAMI on the margins of Airshow China 2024 ended with a meeting with Li Ligong, Director General of China Electronic Technology Corporation, where the parties discussed promising areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.

As part of establishing and strengthening ties with leading Chinese companies, Dmitry Pantus held talks with Zhen Lin, CEO of CASC Corporation, and Fu Zhifeng, President of Great Wall Company. The parties discussed ways of cooperation between Belarusian and Chinese companies in the space sphere.

In addition, the Minister of SAMI met with the management representatives of the Chinese corporation CETC Song Shijie and Poly Technology Company Zhen Guangming. Possible joint projects aimed at strengthening the defence capability of the two states and mechanisms for their implementation were discussed.

Dmitry Pantus held talks in Zhuhai with the leadership of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation of Russia, United Aircraft Corporation and Almaz-Antey Concern, where they discussed the issues of current cooperation in the military-technical sphere between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation, adjustment of the existing legal framework in this area, implementation of existing contracts within the framework of state defence orders and in the interests of third countries.

The intensive work of the Belarusian delegation during the forum to establish contacts with new partners and strengthen ties with long-standing partners lays a solid foundation for new contracts and new areas of cooperation of the Republic of Belarus in the military-technical sphere.