Speech of chairman of the Council of Ministers of BBIH at the Meeting of heads of States of Central and Eastern Europe and Chine

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Vjekoslav Bevanda took part at a meeting of Heads of Governments of Central and Eastern Europe and the People's Republic of China. (for Chairman’s speech see below) 

Dear Prime Minister Tusk,
Distinguished colleagues Prime Ministers,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my special honour and pleasure to be a part of this prominent meeting of an extraordinary importance for all counties represented here.

At the beginning, I would like to commend Prime Minister Tusk for this exceptional organisation and bringing together of such great number of dignitaries at one spot, which was by no means an easy task. Each gathering of representatives of states that promote mutual cooperation, dialogue and friendship, such as this Economic Forum is, brings benefit to all of its participants regardless whether they are close neighbours, like Central and South European countries, or friends from afar, like China.

In this global village we all have become the first neighbours to each other, better trade partners, knowledgeable of each other’s culture and customs, and thence interdependent – which are all reasons that make this event even more important. Central and East European countries have relied on each other for sometimes now due to their cultural and political-historic circumstances, so as a result of that they have become a natural single market and zone of interest. It is a consequence of the previous and current CEFTA membership and also of their close relations with other counties which joined the European family of nations.

On the other side, however, China, as David Rockefeller put it back in 1973, “as the most important and most successful social experiment in human history”, has become the second biggest trade partner to the European Union, who has shown its understanding at the very peak of the Eurozone crisis, and who is the major importer form the EU, not to mention its giant cultural heritage and scientific achievements.  These factors speak clearly that we rely on each other and that this tie will get strengthened in time.

My home country, Bosnia and Herzegovina, belongs to Europe in cultural and historic background, and despite all well-known difficulties, it works hard to join the European Union and to have better cooperation at the regional level.

With the People’s Republic of China, which is one of major exporters to BIH, we have excellent relations, and we especially appreciate the genuine efforts of the Chinese Government and its diplomatic representatives in BIH to increasing their FDIs to our country and even partially lower a huge trade deficit on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s side.

The newly appointed Council of Ministers is firmly dedicated to economic recovery of the country through reforms, opening the way to potential foreign investors for an enhanced foreign exchange, especially with countries represented at this event, including the improvement of cultural, scientific and other exchange both with our friends from our neighbourhood and with those from afar. These causes we find to be the key guidelines for a long-term stability and sustainable development in the region.

I truly believe that this event will end successfully to the benefit of all the entrepreneurs at this Economic Forum and all of us attending the session here in this beautiful hall.

Thank you!