Mr Subbotin made the remarks to the press prior to the negotiations between Belarusian Agriculture and Food Minister Leonid Zayats and Director of China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine Zhi Shuping.

"Today, 21 Belarusian beef manufacturers and 5 poultry factories will be authorised to export products to China," Mr Subbotin said, adding that 36 Belarusian enterprises had been earlier authorized to sell milk into China.

The deputy minister said that the next step in developing the cooperation with China will be the certification of Belarusian enterprises for the supply of freshwater fish.

For his part, Mr Zhi Shuping described Belarus-China relations as a friendly strategic partnership.

"Belarus-China trade is thriving. We would like to see Belarus' safe and high-quality products on our market," he stressed.

Two protocols were signed on permission for deliveries of Belarusian frozen beef and poultry to China, as well as a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in providing safety when importing and exporting food products between China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and Belarus' Agriculture and Food Ministry.