Chinese Government provides RMB 150 million grant — via ETCA — for Student Dormitory Construction Project

Project narrative

On August 13, 2012, the Chinese Government and the Government of Belarus signed letters of exchange regarding a feasibility study for the Student Dormitory Construction Project. Then, on July 16, 2013, the Chinese Government and the Government of Belarus signed an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA), committing RMB 150 million of grant funding for the Student Dormitory Construction Project. China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) was the source of of funding. however, its funding was channeled through a bank account that the Government of Belarus had established with China Development Bank (CDB). The purpose of the project was to construct a dormitory (“hostel”) at Belarusian National Technical University (BNTU) capable of accommodating 1,030 Chinese and Belarusian students. The dormitory is located in the capital city of Minsk and it is located within the boundaries of Dzerzhinsky Avenue and the streets of Semashko and Čiurlionis. The ground floor includes public catering facilities, outpatient clinics, administrative premises, premises for cultural events and consumer services, and fitness facilities. China Railway 25th Bureau Group Co Ltd. was the contractor responsible for project implementation. A formal groundbreaking ceremony took place on April 28, 2016. However, project implementation did not commence until July 26, 2017. It was originally anticipated that the project would reach completion by January 1, 2018. However, it was ultimately completed on July 25, 2018. A project handover certificate was issued in August 2018. The grand opening of the new dormitory took place on October 11, 2019. Additional financing for this project came from a supplemental MOFCOM grant (captured in Record ID#66274). According to various media articles, the total financing for this project was $40 million, which is slightly less than the sum of the RMB 150 million grant commitment captured in Record ID#42473 and the supplemental RMB 200 million RMB ETCA grant commitment captured in Record ID#66274.