Beijing's first Belarusian restaurant, named after its capital Minsk, opened in Beijing on Wednesday.

Located in Xizhimen, northern downtown Beijing, Minsk can be found near the famous Moscow Restaurant. Folk music wafting through the air, dozens of scenic pictures hanging on the walls and an exhibition hall displaying Belarusian porcelain, craftwork, linen products and vodka, imbue the restaurant with an authentic Belarusian feel.

Ambassador of Belarus to China, Anatoly Tozik, and former Chinese ambassador to Belarus, Yu Zhenqi, along with restaurant manager Tong Fulai, attended the new restaurant's ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Tozik said that the opening of Minsk is important for Belarusians as it is the first such restaurant in China, and furthermore it's an endeavor his nation completely supports.

Tong said the hospitality of the Belarusian people left her with a deep impression when she visited the country two years ago. For this reason she decided to open a Belarusian restaurant in Beijing, and hopes it can become a platform for the two nations' continued communication.

(CRIENGLISH.com November 29, 2007)