Tadić wraps up China visit

President Boris Tadic has finished his five-day visit to China, after meeting with Chinese businesspeople in Shanghai. Tadic said that the China trip was very successful, adding that “the door has been opened for our government and businesspeople to achieve a strategic partnership through economic gains, and in the interest of both countries”. Tadic wraps up China visit In talks with the Serbian president at a business forum on investment and trade in Shanghai, the members of the Chinese business community inquired about conditions for investing in Serbia, possible business arrangements and economic situation in Southeast Europe. Tadic said during the forum that Serbia "offers many possibilities for starting up business arrangements that will be in the interest of both sides". “It is my great pleasure and I believe that the visit to your country is a historical one for Serbia. Even though China and Serbia have very different roles at the beginning of the 21st century, we achieved long-term friendly relations through the strategic partnership,” he said. Tadic stated that China is a key economic factor in the world, while that Serbia is "on the European path, and has a central position in Southeast Europe". He explained that “Serbia is becoming a large construction site”, adding that only in Belgrade and in surrounding suburbs there are already five bridges planned over the Danube and Sava rivers. “One of these bridges, from Zemun to Borca, will be realized with the help of a loan from the China Eximbank and with companies from China working on it. This bridge will be the first Chinese bridge in Europe and will bridge the largest European fairway—the Danube River,” Tadic said, calling on Chinese to invest in Serbia. At the end of his visit, Shanghai city officials showed the Serbian president brand new technologies, such as a train that levitates magnetically and reaches speeds of 450 kilometers per hour, which is one of the symbols of the Chinese megalopolis. Tadic has been in China since August 20, on the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao. The two presidents said that the strategic partnership which China and Serbia have created represents great progress in relations between the two friendly countries. Tadic, left, is seen during a visit to a Buddhist temple in Xi'an (FoNet) "Long-term importance of partnership" President of the Foreign Policy Council of the Serbian Foreign Ministry Sonja Liht said that the strategic partnership with China is very important for the long-term success of Serbia’s foreign policies. “I don't know the answer to the question why China chose precisely Serbia to forge a deal of this kind. I suppose they think that Serbia can be an interesting address in this part of the world. China obviously plans on spreading its influence throughout Europe, for which purpose our country, as a Balkan country close to EU candidacy, can be very interesting,” Liht told Belgrade daily Danas. “Large countries need cooperation and strategic partnerships with small countries. China probably wants more influence in the Balkans and this part of Europe, and all small countries would, I presume, like such an agreement with China, which has already become an economic power,” she said. “China is a big player with whom many countries want good relations,” Liht said, adding that American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton chose China for her first official visit, "which demonstrates Beijing’s importance".

Tadić wraps up China visit

In talks with the Serbian president at a business forum on investment and trade in Shanghai, the members of the Chinese business community inquired about conditions for investing in Serbia, possible business arrangements and economic situation in Southeast Europe.

Tadić said during the forum that Serbia "offers many possibilities for starting up business arrangements that will be in the interest of both sides".

“It is my great pleasure and I believe that the visit to your country is a historical one for Serbia. Even though China and Serbia have very different roles at the beginning of the 21st century, we achieved long-term friendly relations through the strategic partnership,” he said.

Tadić stated that China is a key economic factor in the world, while that Serbia is "on the European path, and has a central position in Southeast Europe".

He explained that “Serbia is becoming a large construction site”, adding that only in Belgrade and in surrounding suburbs there are already five bridges planned over the Danube and Sava rivers.

“One of these bridges, from Zemun to Borča, will be realized with the help of a loan from the China Eximbank and with companies from China working on it. This bridge will be the first Chinese bridge in Europe and will bridge the largest European fairway—the Danube River,” Tadić said, calling on Chinese to invest in Serbia.

At the end of his visit, Shanghai city officials showed the Serbian president brand new technologies, such as a train that levitates magnetically and reaches speeds of 450 kilometers per hour, which is one of the symbols of the Chinese megalopolis.

Tadić has been in China since August 20, on the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao.

The two presidents said that the strategic partnership which China and Serbia have created represents great progress in relations between the two friendly countries.

"Long-term importance of partnership"

President of the Foreign Policy Council of the Serbian Foreign Ministry Sonja Liht said that the strategic partnership with China is very important for the long-term success of Serbia’s foreign policies.

“I don't know the answer to the question why China chose precisely Serbia to forge a deal of this kind. I suppose they think that Serbia can be an interesting address in this part of the world. China obviously plans on spreading its influence throughout Europe, for which purpose our country, as a Balkan country close to EU candidacy, can be very interesting,” Liht told Belgrade daily Danas.

“Large countries need cooperation and strategic partnerships with small countries. China probably wants more influence in the Balkans and this part of Europe, and all small countries would, I presume, like such an agreement with China, which has already become an economic power,” she said.

“China is a big player with whom many countries want good relations,” Liht said, adding that American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton chose China for her first official visit, "which demonstrates Beijing’s importance".