17.05.2018.

Remarks by Mr. Tomislav Nikolić, President of the National Council, at the opening of a seminar titled “The Belt and Road International Financial Communication and Cooperation Seminar”

President of the National Council for Coordination of Cooperation with the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China Tomislav Nikolić is paying a working visit to the People’s Republic of China, at the invitation of China’s Government. Mr. Nikolić is attending the Belt and Road International Financial Communication and Cooperation Seminar, organized by the Bank of China. The seminar is taking place in Beijing and Shanghai. In addition to the Serbian delegation, led by Mr. Nikolić, the seminar is attended by senior administration officials from Montenegro, Bulgaria and Romania.

The Office of the National Council

 

Dear Chairman Mr. Chen Siqin,
Dear Chief Supervisor Mr. Wang Xiquan,
Dear Deputy Minister Mr. Wang Chao,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I have the honour to address you not only as a member of the Serbian delegation, but also as a representative of all delegations participating in today’s seminar. I would like to thank the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Bank of China for enabling the representatives of four neighbouring Southeast European countries to acquaint themselves more thoroughly with the “One Belt One Road” strategy and the Chinese view of the global economy’s dominant trends.

Our delegation is composed of the State Secretaries, Assistant Ministers, Members of the Offices of Prime Ministers and Deputy Prime Ministers, Directors and other senior administration officials from Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Romania. We are all here to gain a deeper understanding of China, to learn much about “The Belt and Road”, and to introduce you to Central and East European’s views and possibilities regarding the given topics. Should you wish to discuss banking, finance, construction, transport, infrastructure, energy, mining, economy, trade, tourism, telecommunications or culture, members of all delegation will be at your disposal.

I have been at the helm of the National Council for Coordination of Cooperation with the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China for a year now, which has been the fulfillment of one of my years-long political dreams. Throughout almost three decades of my political career, I have worked hard to strengthen our ties, help them to take root and further develop the strategic relations between Serbia and China.

Serbia has established the National Council with the support of President Xi Jinping, a great visionary leader and pillar of today’s global cooperation, a man dedicated to the development of China’s economy and its contributive role in giving both the Chinese nation and other nations, too, a chance to live a dignified life. During my presidential visit to Beijing in March 2017, I acquainted President Xi Jinping with my intention to further pursue cooperation with China, which he embraced enthusiastically, promising that China would also form a separate body designated to cooperate with Serbia. President Xi Jinping is a great leader of the great China, and his epochal “One Belt One Road” initiative has brought us all together today. Moreover, similar institutions have been established in other countries from the region, too.

Dear friends,

From the outset, the CEE region has been actively engaged in the “One Belt One Road” initiative, which it perceives as a symbol of development and progress. The initiative took shape through a number of projects related to infrastructure, energy, business and culture, visible at every step. China is building bridges and motorways, revamping the railway sector, thermal power plants, etc. I have visited all the construction sites where the Chinese companies are operating, experiencing, at first hand, both the impressive quality and the speed of construction.

China is a strategic partner of Serbia’s major Smederevo Steel Mill, where it records excellent business results. Based on this positive experience, we can observe that Chinese companies are interested in other production investments, too. We all hope to revive and modernize our industry, together with China. In tandem with China, too, we intend to build major industrial parks, such as the one in Smederevo, which will additionally cement the bonds between entrepreneurs from China and the CEE region.

The CEE countries have a lot to offer to China. We believe that China can import our high-quality products, food in particular. We have been informed that China is hosting the first Fair for China-bound exporters later in 2018, and we must form expert delegations to represent us in Shanghai.

In addition to our business connections, our nations are growing closer culture-wise, too. Both 2017 and 2018 have seen an increase of Chinese tourists. In January 2017, we abolished visas for the nationals of China, thus proving how welcome they are. Moreover, China is building a Cultural Centre in Belgrade, and we intend to open ours in Beijing. Our universities and institutes cherish mutual cooperation, while Serbian students are travelling to China to pursue professional training and language studies. The Chinese language is taught at Serbian schools, and I will add that the Chinese living in Serbia are very good at mastering the Serbian language.

Dear friends,

The CEE countries are looking forward to China’s successes and its fast progress, which we can witness at every step each time when in this part of the world. We believe that China brings stability, development and world peace. China will soon celebrate the 40th anniversary since the beginning of comprehensive reforms and the 70th anniversary of its modern-day founding. Its present generation can proudly showcase the results achieved over the past decades by regulating the society, implementing reforms and creating a powerful economy.

Once again, I would like to thank the hosts for the opportunity to experience the China of today. My special gratitude goes to the Bank of China, for its tireless work aimed at connecting our economies, which best proves the justifiability of its presence in the CEE region.

Xiè xie!

The Office of the National Council

Council President Nikolić had a meeting with President of the Bank of China Mr. Chen Siqing, in Beijing.