prijava
SARAJEVO, September 12 (FENA) - The Belt and Road Initiative of the People’s Republic of China is a significant opportunity for its participants, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the entire region. Therefore, Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to recognize these opportunities and respond with a strategic approach, stated the BiH Presidency member Mladen Ivanić today at a symposium taking place at the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH titled "Five Years of the Belt and Road Initiative: Cooperation and Opportunities".
The Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH is celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Initiative with this symposium, in cooperation with the Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Center for the Promotion and Development of the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to revive the economic and other connections between the countries on the former Silk Road.
The BiH Presidency Member Mladen Ivanić, addressing the participants, pointed to the importance of the term "Silk Road", and although it was created more than 2,000 years ago, it has assumed serious civilization characteristic by linking different societies and spreading a kind of friendship.
Ivanić believes that the present Belt and Road Initiative will also have a very large, far-reaching significance, "because China is a state that plans for centuries ahead."
“After having entered the period of economic stabilization, China has opted for a different approach to expanding its global role. It has invested significant funds in the Silk Road countries. The 16 + 1 Initiative got its momentum against other initiatives that ended without any concrete results. It is evident that there will be investments in the energy sector and infrastructure, and for Bosnia and Herzegovina it would be clever to prepare for them. If we have the knowledge, we will have a lot of benefits,” said Ivanić.
Ambassador of the People's Republic of China in BiH, Chen Bo, also addressed the participants of the symposium, emphasizing that Ivanić's presence also speaks a lot about the support of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Belt and Road Initiative, and the attention that is paid to the relations with China.
Recalling that five years ago, the initiative was proposed by President Xi Jinping, Ambassador Bo pointed out that today more than a hundred countries and international organizations are signatories of the document on cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative whose main concepts are included in the documents of important international institutions such as the United Nations and the G20.
The principles of joint consultations, contributions and the implementation of common interests are widely recognized. Over the past five years, China's total trade exchange with the countries of the Belt and Road Initiative has exceeded five trillion US dollars. China has invested more than USD 60 billion in direct investments and has created more than 200,000 jobs in the countries involved, the Ambassador said.
Ambassador Bo also added that the Belt and Road Initiative has given a new momentum to the relations between China and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Over the past five years, the number of exchanges above the level of deputy ministers has doubled in relation to the period since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries up until 2013.
According to the statistics from the Chinese side, the cumulative trade exchange between the two countries amounted to almost USD 800 million, while according to the BiH statistics, this amount is five billion and 760 million KM. The number of Chinese tourists in 2017 increased five times compared to 2013. According to the statistics for the first half of this year, China is the fifth country by the number of tourists that visited BiH, just behind Croatia, Serbia, Turkey and Slovenia.
Thermal power plant in Stanari was successfully completed and has begun to achieve a stable profit. The construction of the block 7 of the Tuzla Thermal Power Plant is currently in the parliamentary approval procedure.
The total value of major projects that were completed, agreed or are in the negotiation phase, has reached three billion and 800 million euros.
The visa liberation agreement for holders of regular passports, which has come into force, not only encouraged tourism cooperation but also the exchange of business people and sparked the interest of Chinese SMEs to invest in BiH.
Within the framework of the 16 + 1 cooperation, a forum on cooperation in industrial capacities, a fair of agricultural products and wines, a high-level conference on tourism cooperation were all held in BiH.
In addition to this, BiH will host a conference on cooperation in innovation, a conference of transport ministers and a winter sports festival for students as part of the 16 + 1 cooperation initiative.
“These events not only give a strong impetus to practical cooperation between China and BiH and other regional countries, but also contribute to the economic development of China and BiH, the regional cooperation in South east Europe, as an important agenda for BiH and other countries in the region on the path to the EU,” stressed Ambassador Chen Bo.
She believes that relations between China and BiH can get even more positive momentum in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative and the 16 + 1 cooperation, in three segments precisely: strengthening policy synergies, exploiting potential for cooperation and achieving trilateral cooperation.
“China supports the process of EU integration and looks forward to preserving the unity, stability, openness and prosperity of the European Union.
The Belt and Road Initiative and the 16 + 1 cooperation are not an exclusive and closed club but a large, open and transparent platform. We are ready to explore the possibilities of trilateral cooperation between China, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries of Southeast Europe, as well as between China, BiH and EU member states, while at the same time strengthening regional cooperation,” said Ambassador Chen Bo.
Vice President of the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina Vjekoslav Vuković emphasized the importance of partnership with the People's Republic of China. The Belt and Road Initiative has undergone significant expansion building on the foundations of the ancient Silk Road.
“This is not only an economic opportunity, but also an opportunity for tourism, cultural and many other connections between our countries,” he said.
The foreign trade exchange with the People's Republic of China is 100 percent higher than in 2012, but still, BiH exports range from 38 to 40 million KM and are significantly lower than imports from China which amount to 463 million KM. This has to change and it requires appropriate engagement in the complex socio-economic system of BiH,” Vuković said.
(FENA) S. R.
