Chairman of the Serbia-BRICS Cooperation Organization: collaboration with China contributes to the rapid growth of the Serbian economy

Zoran Javanovic, Chairman of the Serbia-BRICS Cooperation Organization, highlighted in an exclusive interview with Guangming Daily that cooperation between Serbia and China is expanding with growing potential. He emphasized that the collaboration benefits not only Serbia but also extends significant advantages to neighboring countries and Europe in general.

Javanovic highlighted the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in October, which was attended by Servian President Vucic. Serbia and China signed a Free Trade Agreement and 18 other cooperation documents, marking a fruitful and significant collaboration. Despite its population of just over 7 million, Serbia has signed FTAs or enjoyed tariff reductions with many countries in Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. As the first Central and Eastern European country to sign an FTA with China, Serbia will leverage on it to enhance its role as a product producer, boosting re-export trade and attracting foreign investments, including those from China.

According to Javanovic, the Serbian and Chinese governments and companies signed several cooperation agreements on the Forum, notably a nearly 4 billion euros road construction project in Serbia. This underscores the ongoing infrastructure cooperation between the two countries. Furthermore, Serbia’s purchase of five high-speed trains from China, set to operate on the completed Hungarian-Serbian Railway, marks a landmark achievement. It’s the first case of a European country acquiring high-speed trains manufactured in China, which is of landmark significance for both Serbia and China.

Javanovic highlighted the decade-long development of Serbia-China cooperation driven by the Belt and Road Initiative. He noted the expanding collaboration beyond infrastructure to encompass finance, education, culture, and healthcare. During the recent Forum, Serbia signed agreements with China in diverse fields covering financial cooperation, traditional Chinese medicine, tourism, and the exchange of educational resources. This reflects the broadening and deepening partnership between the two sides.

Javanovic highlighted President Vucic’s keen interest in advancing Serbia’s digital economy, artificial intelligence, and innovative development sectors. Recognizing China’s global leadership in these fields, he emphasized the significant potential for collaboration between Serbia and China. Javanovic shared insights on the industrial parks under construction in Belgrade by Chinese companies, emphasizing their focus on high-tech enterprises. These parks aim to attract Chinese high-tech firms and nurture local scientific and technological talent with a view of further enhancing bilateral cooperation.

“Over the past decade, collaboration with China has propelled Serbia’s economy to rapid growth, significantly elevating living standards.” Javanovic noted the fact that Serbia still faces numerous challenges, but its partnership with China provides a robust foundation for addressing these issues. The cooperation has instilled hope for development and pointed a pathway to prosperity among the Serbians, garnering widespread support for the government’s proactive engagement with China.