Serbia, China, Hungary agree on railway deal

BUCHAREST Prime ministers of Serbia, China and Hungary reached an agreement in Bucharest on a joint project of modernization of the railway between Budapest and Belgrade. Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said that this was an opportunity to set high technological goals in the region "and to turn into reality what was until recently represented as science fiction." Serbia, China, Hungary agree on railway deal "For Serbia, there is no doubt - China is our friend and with China we have a strategic partnership. Serbia is open to Chinese investment and already we have several infrastructure projects being implemented," Dacic said at a joint press conference with Li Keqiang and Viktor Orban. He previously held separate bilateral meetings with both. Dacic also said that the route from Budapest to Belgrade was extremely important to Serbia. "Transit through Serbia depends on modernizing the railway and building highways," he said. The Chinese premier told reporters that he reached an agreement with Orban and Dacic, and that the setting up of working groups would be done immediately in order to start the realization of the agreement as soon as possible. "This project is a milestone," said Li, adding that products "Made in China" are known throughout the world, and that this is now the case with Chinese technology and equipment as well. According to Orban, this is the kind of project that has not existed before - between China, an EU member, and a European country that is not yet a member, which, according to him, "puts all parties in a winning position." "What we do know is that China will be very strong in the future, and that Central and Eastern Europe will be an engine of growth in Europe," Orban said, expressing his gratitude to China for providing the funds which , as he said, the eurozone is not able to provide . The Hungarian prime minister added that he hopes that this will serve as "an example for the future." During the press conference, the prime ministers did not give any details about the value of this project. However, China has said that it will set aside USD 10 billion for projects in Central and Eastern Europe. The deal was struck during the first day of the China - Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Summit, in Bucharest, Romania. Dacic said earlier that after the reconstruction of the railway, trains on the Belgrade-Budapest section should travel at 200 kilometers per hour. (Tanjug) Tanjug

Serbia, China, Hungary agree on railway deal

"For Serbia, there is no doubt - China is our friend and with China we have a strategic partnership. Serbia is open to Chinese investment and already we have several infrastructure projects being implemented," Dačić said at a joint press conference with Li Keqiang and Viktor Orban.

He previously held separate bilateral meetings with both.

Dačić also said that the route from Budapest to Belgrade was extremely important to Serbia.

"Transit through Serbia depends on modernizing the railway and building highways," he said.

The Chinese premier told reporters that he reached an agreement with Orban and Dačić, and that the setting up of working groups would be done immediately in order to start the realization of the agreement as soon as possible.

"This project is a milestone," said Li, adding that products "Made in China" are known throughout the world, and that this is now the case with Chinese technology and equipment as well.

According to Orban, this is the kind of project that has not existed before - between China, an EU member, and a European country that is not yet a member, which, according to him, "puts all parties in a winning position."

"What we do know is that China will be very strong in the future, and that Central and Eastern Europe will be an engine of growth in Europe," Orban said, expressing his gratitude to China for providing the funds which , as he said, the eurozone is not able to provide .

The Hungarian prime minister added that he hopes that this will serve as "an example for the future."

During the press conference, the prime ministers did not give any details about the value of this project.

However, China has said that it will set aside USD 10 billion for projects in Central and Eastern Europe.

The deal was struck during the first day of the China - Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Summit, in Bucharest, Romania.

Dačić said earlier that after the reconstruction of the railway, trains on the Belgrade-Budapest section should travel at 200 kilometers per hour.