Vucevic: We see Belt and Road as platform for connectivity, joint progress

BELGRADE - The Belt and Road initiative is extremely important for Serbia's future, as well as for global cooperation, Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) leader Milos Vucevic said on Friday, noting that Serbia saw the initiative as a road of friendship, prosperity and a shared future.

"Serbia was proud to become one of the first countries to recognise the visionary potential of the Belt and Road initiative, initiated by Chinese President Xi Jinping. In it, we do not only see an economic project, but also a comprehensive platform for connectivity, understanding and joint progress," Vucevic said at the opening of a Belt and Road High Level Dialogue conference hosted by the Belt and Road Institute in Belgrade.

The Belt and Road initiative is a bridge connecting continents, cultures and economies, opening up new perspectives for development and prosperity of all participants, Vucevic said, noting that Sino-Serbian relations had seen an "unprecedented transformation" in the past decade.

"From a traditional friendship, they have evolved into a comprehensive strategic partnership and a steely friendship, which is the term that best describes the depth of our ties. We are proud of that friendship, because it is based on mutual respect, trust and common interests," Vucevic said.

He added that the economic results of this cooperation were "more than impressive" and that Chinese investment had kick-started many economic sectors in Serbia, creating jobs and modernising infrastructure.

"From the Smederevo steel mill, which has been revived thanks to a Chinese partner, HBIS, to modernisation of the Belgrade-Budapest rail line, which will position Serbia as a key transport hub in this part of Europe - all those projects represent tangible evidence of how successful our cooperation has been. We must not forget Bor, which has been reborn under Zijin, or the construction of bridges and roads that are connecting Serbia," Vucevic said.