China's Xi wraps up visit to Serbia by visiting steelworks

China's Xi wraps up visit to Serbia by visiting steelworks

Vucic also "voiced hope that Smederevo will be one of the wealthiest cities in our country" and "added that Serbia will have a large economic growth in part owing to the workers of the Smederevo steelworks, the Chinese friends and Chinese President Xi Jinping," the Serbian government said on its website.

According to the prime minister, the Chinese steel company HBIS will make the Smederevo steelworks the best European steel mill, adding that the story of its salvation is the story of our persistence and courage.

"We have invested a lot of energy and love in rescuing the Smederevo steelworks, even when many were telling us to quit. This struggle lasted four years and now we have managed to provide jobs for thousands of people," Vucic stated.

He "stressed that this does not only include employees of the steel mill, but also the other 10,000 people who will work for the factory" and "especially thanked the workers for respecting the effort and the work of those who have fought for the steelworks."

Vucic added that he spoke yesterday with the Chinese guests about the new free zone in Smederevo and told the people of Smederevo that he will always be with them and fight for the most successful steelworks and a powerful and strong Serbia.

President of China Xi Jinping said that Zelezara Smederevo, which will soon be acquired by Chinese HBIS, will get back its splendor and vitality and will assume an active role in increasing the local standard of living and of economic development of Serbia.

He added that the cooperation of the two countries at Zelezara Smederevo will be a model not only of Sino-Serbian practical cooperation, but also of international cooperation of China and southeast Europe.

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said that Serbia, with its production capacity, skilled and hard-working employees, favorable business environment, geographical position and European perspective could be a foundation on which China will build its position in Europe.

Chairman of HBIS Yu Yong stated that the takeover of the Zelezara Smederevo steelworks is a chance to build an international HBIS and that by using modern and ecology-friendly technology in the Serbian steel mill, it will become the most competitive in Europe and an example for other companies. Vucic on Saturday met with Xi, and said it was "an excellent opportunity to improve relations between the two countries in all spheres, underlining that Serbia and China will have many more joint infrastructure projects."

During the talks, Vucic thanked the Chinese president for the support of his country to the territorial integrity of Serbia and added that Serbia will always support the One-China Policy and in the political sense be a strategic partner of that country.

He "expressed his conviction that during this visit the Chinese president has felt sincere friendship of the Serbian people at every step, and noted that this visit is an excellent opportunity to work on promoting good political relations between the two countries in the sphere of the economy and all other areas, especially infrastructure."

Regarding the "One Belt, One Road" strategy, we have developed an excellent cooperation in the field of infrastructure, where the Chinese companies completed the big bridge over the Danube and are currently working on the construction of sections on Corridor 11, Vucic said.

He recalled that an important contract for the construction of the Surcin-Obrenovac section on Corridor 11 has been signed, which will be a link between Belgrade and central Serbia.

Vucic added that he also expects the signing of a commercial contract for the construction of the Belgrade-Budapest railway.

On the last day of his visit to Serbia, Xi laid a wreath on the Monument to an Unknown Soldier, at Avala Mountain, near Belgrade, where he signed a commemoration book. The Chinese president was welcomed to the ceremony by Minister of Defense Zoran Djordjevic, the Serbian Army chief-of-staff Ljubisa Dikovic and members of the presidential military office, Beta agency reported.

Xi arrived in Serbia on Friday. He and Nikolic on Sunday signed the joint statement on strategic partnership. The Chinese leader was also decorated with the Order of the Republic of Serbia.

Xi left Belgrade for Warsaw on Sunday. After Poland, he will be visiting Uzbekistan, where the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will meet.