“Cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Serbia has progressed in 2021 as well, and we have achieved great results. Thanks to all my friends for their support. Together, we are persistent in building our steel friendship in the New Year,” said the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Serbia, Chen Bo, and reminded of the successful results achieved together during the previous year.
According to her, 2021 is of great importance in Chinese history.
“On the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, China has achieved its first centennial goal, eliminated absolute poverty and built a moderately prosperous society in every way. The previous year was also a year of further progress in the development of relations between China and Serbia, deepening cooperation in all areas and friendship between our two peoples. Thank you to our friends for supporting China’s development and to all those dedicated to promoting China-Serbia relations. I wish everyone good luck and health in the new 2022 year,” said Chen Bo on her twitter account and shared a video showing a summary of the most successful projects during 2021.
Mutual visits, joint addresses and valuable agreements
Let us remind you, the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Yiping and the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić participated in the Summit of the Leaders of China and the CEE countries on February 9. On June 24, they discussed the strategic and long-term development of bilateral relations, and on July 6, they participated in the CCP Summit and political parties of other countries. In September, they gave video speeches at the opening of the Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC) 2021.
On June 22, the President of the Standing Committee of the All-China People’s Congress, Li Zhanshu, spoke via video link with the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Ivica Dačić. Together with Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, Li Zhanshu delivered a speech at the Guiyang 2021 International Forum on Environmental Civilization on July 12.
State Counselor and Minister of Defense of the People’s Republic of China Wei Fenghe visited Serbia on March 25, 2021, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selaković visited China on May 29.
In October, State Adviser and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi visited Serbia.
On May 27, State Counselor and Minister of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China Zhao Kezhi and Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vulin held a video meeting and signed an agreement on mutual recognition and exchange of driver’s licenses between China and Serbia.
The construction of the most important sections has progressed successfully
The construction of the Belgrade-Stara Pazova section within the Belgrade-Budapest high-speed railway project has progressed successfully. During 2021, works on the construction of the Novi Sad-Subotica-border section within the project of building the Belgrade-Budapest high-speed railway began, and works on the construction of the Preljina-Požega section on the Miloš Veliki highway were intensified.
The project of building a bypass around Belgrade was also successfully developed, and some sections of the road are already open for traffic.
In addition, works have begun on the construction of the New Belgrade-Surcin section on the Milos Veliki highway, as well as the construction of the Fruska Gora and Danube corridors.
The realization of the project of construction and reconstruction of the communal infrastructure “Clean Serbia” has begun in many places, as well as the construction of the Belgrade metro in which the Chinese, Serbian and French sides are participating.
Chinese companies in Serbia have recorded numerous successes
During 2021, the Pancevo thermal power plant was put into operation, a project in cooperation with the Shanghai Electric Group.
HBIS’s business in Serbia is continuously improving. The implementation of the transformation project in order to protect the environment will start soon. During 2021, HBIS Serbia retained its position as the leading exporter in Serbia.
Zijin’s mine in Bor is constantly increasing its production capacities and investments in environmental protection, and in 2021 it is still a major exporter in Serbia. Zijin has opened a new mine and Serbia will become the leading country in copper production in Europe.
In 2021, Meita increased the area of its production plant by 1,000 square meters. In the period from January to November, the export of this company reached the value of 110 million euros.
The construction of a factory for the production of LED lighting for the automotive industry Xingyu in Nis has been completed and testing is underway.
The company Mint has completed the construction of the factory and entered the phase of setting up and testing the production line, and the construction of the tire factory of the company Linglong in Zrenjanin is intensifying.
Support in the fight against COVID-19
The first contingent of one million doses of Sinofarm vaccine bought by Serbia arrived in Belgrade on January 16 on a special flight. Serbia is the first country in Europe to receive the Chinese vaccine against COVID-19.
More than four million doses and aid in the form of 200,000 doses of Sinofarm vaccine donated to the Serbian Army by the People’s Liberation Army of the People’s Republic of China arrived one after another.
On July 12, the Chinese Sinofarm Group, the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the G42 Group from the UAE signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation for the production of the vaccine against COVID-19 in Serbia.
The first contingent of Sinofarm vaccine filling solution arrived in Serbia on September 4.
In early September, the cornerstone was laid for the construction of the Serbian Vaccine Factory, jointly built by Sinofarm, the Serbian government and the UAE G42, and in December the Bioinformatics Genome Sequencing Center was opened by the Beijing Institute of Genomics BGI and the State Institute of Molecular Genetics Engineering of Serbia.
Cooperation in the field of culture
During 2021, China and Serbia signed an Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Culture and Sports.
On the occasion of the centenary of the founding of the CCP, the Post of Serbia issued a commemorative issue of postage stamps “100 years of the Communist Party of China”.
The Chinese Cultural Center has been completed and will officially start operating soon, BizLife reports.
