Zvizdić – Keqiang: Preferential Export to PR China to Foster BIH Economic Development

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH Dr Denis Zvizdić met in Beijing with Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China Li Keqiang, to whom he congratulated for an excellent organisation of the 4th Summit of the Central and East European countries and People's Republic of China. Chairman Zvizdić thanked to support China has extended to date to Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Prime Minister Keqiang said China and Bosnia and Herzegovina have excellent bilateral relations and that the PR China respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He declared readiness for a more active cooperation towards the improvement of economic, trade and other relations between the two countries.

Prime Minister Keqiiang informed Chairman Zvizdić that the Government of the PR China took a decision to donate CHJ 30 million to Bosnia and Herzegovina, in order to promote and enhance the trade volume. He welcomed the initiative offered to BIH at the 4th Summit of the Central and East European countries and PR China for organising an economic forum in BIH in the first half of the next year.

Chairman Zvizdić informed the Prime Minister of the on-going projects, and made note of a EUR 400 million worth Agreement, signed three days ago on construction of the Banovići hydropower plant of 350 mega vats capacity, including underway projects, worth EUR 2 billion, to be realised in the coming period of time. On that occasion he made a mention of a possibility for other investments in the energy sector, stressing that the sector has space and capacities for the improvement of cooperation in the areas of hydro and wind power.

He said that the transport infrastructure is extremely important and attractive area also with great potentials for cooperation. Chairman Zvizdič presented cooperation possibilities in the industrial production, especially in the wood-processing and metal-processing industries, and invited Chinese companies to be integrators of the progress-driven processes within these important areas, able to provide employment for young people, to age of 27 .

Chairman Zvizdić stressed the importance of the high quality customs agreement of BIH with the European Union and also with the Western Balkans countries, Turkey, Switzerland, Norway and Ireland. He mentioned that the whole range of products might be produced in BIH and exported to these countries.

Chairman Zvizdić said that, in accordance with guidelines from the 4th Summit of the Central and East European countries and China, the volume of export of BIH agricultural products might be increased, and based upon our good bilateral cooperation to date, he asked for a preferential treatment with relieved quotas for certain products of interest for Chinese market, and which BIH is able to export, such as milk, vegetable oil. beer, vegetables, dry fruit bakery and similar.

„The export would boost economic development in BIH considerably and in addition, it would further foster our good bilateral relations“, Chairman Zvizdić said during the meeting with Prime Minister Keqiang.

Prime Minister Keqiang said that the PR China will support innovations in the area of auto-industry, forestry, energy etc., and said that the Chinese Government will support arrival of Chinese investors to BIH.

Chairman Zvizdić invited the Chinese Prime Minister to visit BIH, which he accepted and said he is ready to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina next year

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