25 September 2018

Serbia supports the “Belt and Road” strategy

Mr. Ivan Mrkić of the National Council for Coordination of Cooperation with the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China and Mr. Nedeljko Tenjović, Acting Director of the National Council Office, met today in Belgrade a delegation of journalists from China’s State Council Information Office (SCIO).

Photograph: FoNet

“How much Serbia supports the “Belt and Road” strategy, pioneered by President of China Xi Jinping, is well known, as well as that Serbia actively participates in the “16+1” initiative, in the context of which it has tabled many projects that are currently in the pipeline or their execution is being worked out. The “secret” of successful Sino-Serbian relations is China’s approach towards cooperation with Serbia as a friendly country, while respecting its priorities and goals. The projects carried out in Serbia in collaboration with China, such as the privatization of Smederevo Steelworks, establishment of a strategic partnership with the Mining and Smelting Combine Bor and the modernization and construction of the Belgrade-Budapest railroad, are all enabling Serbia to make economic headway. The comprehensive strategic partnership between Serbia and China was forged owing to the efforts made by Tomislav Nikolić and President Xi Jinping, and the incumbent Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has kept up the momentum of this cooperation, and the number of agreements recently signed by the Serbian delegation in Beijing testifies to the fact”, Mr. Ivan Mrkić underlined.

“The Serbian Government’s decision to set up a separate institution to cooperate with China speaks volumes about the importance that Serbia attaches to its friendship and overall relationship with China. As the two countries’ political relations are marked with stability, they have launched mutually beneficial projects whose execution is running smoothly, to the mutual satisfaction. Nevertheless, the prospects of Sino-Serbian cooperation could be particularly enhanced in the areas of culture, education, and the media”, the SCIO representatives noted.