Chinese Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Chen Bo told FENA News Agency that Bosnia achieved yet another success on the bilateral cooperation plan following the end of the “16+1” Summit in Sofia. She stressed that every summit and bilateral meeting is an opportunity to develop relations between Bosnia and China.

“The ‘16+1’ prime ministers’ Summit was marked by the Visa Abolition Agreement between governments of Bosnia and China, an agreement in the field of agriculture between competent institutions of our two countries as well as the Loan Agreement for the construction of Block 7, of the Tuzla Thermal Power Plant,” the Ambassador said. “The two countries initiated a procedure on the signing of an agreement on cooperation in the field of civil aviation which will create the condition for the introduction of a direct airline between Bosnia and China. The two sides have initiated a procedure related to the issuance of a license to export dairy products from Bosnia to the Chinese market.”

Companies from the two countries that took part in the Summit signed two cooperation agreements concerning road infrastructure, worth over BAM 2 billion (around EUR 1 billion) The first is the construction of the Banjaluka-Prijedor-Novi Grad highway in the Republika Srpska entity and the second is the construction of the Vukosavlje-Doboj highway and its Vukosavlja-Brcko branch. In both of these projects, the Chinese investors will act as direct investors.

Right after the Summit, the Ambassador expressed her expectations that the Huawei company will enter an agreement with BH Telecom on the construction of its 4G network.

“I am glad that Bosnia is the winner of the Summit. The Chinese Embassy in Sarajevo will continue to work with our Bosnian partners on the promotion of cooperation between our two countries in all fields,” Bo said.

Bosnia’s Council of Ministers Chairman Denis Zvizdic, Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Minister Mirko Sarovic and Transport and Communication Minister Ismir Jusko made up the Bosnian delegation at the 7th Summit of 16 prime ministers from Central and Eastern Europe and China (16+1), held in Sofia, Bulgaria.

 The ‘16+1’ initiative is part of China's One Belt, One Road mega project, a sort of modern-day Silk Road considered to be one of the most ambitious projects in the world.

(EUR 1 = BAM 1.95583)