The China International Import Expo connects international and domestic markets effectively and is a perfect display of innovation, production, distribution and consumption, Belarus Consul General in Shanghai, Andrei Andreev said.

Belarus will return to the expo as a strategic partner next year and is positive about the high market demand for quality beef, milk, and poultry in China, said Andreev during an interview with China Daily after the fourth edition of the annual expo concluded in November.

He used four words to conclude this year's expo: "innovation", "sustainability", "energy" and "activeness"."The expo is effective for foreign exhibitors to discuss the needs of Chinese buyers and marketing strategies.

Suppliers can therefore understand the import market in China," he said.This year, Belarus had three pavilions in the expo - one that represented the China-Belarus Industrial Park, a flagship joint venture signed in 2011 within the Belt and Road Initiative, one for companies from the food sector, and one dedicated to science, technology and education.

Andreev also noted that next year will be the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two countries.According to the Foreign Ministry, the two countries will hold the Year of the Regions in 2021 and 2022 to promote regional cooperation ?in the economic, science and technology, education, healthcare and other sectors. Minsk, the capital city of Belarus, and six Belarusian states currently have sister relations with Chinese cities.