通过谋求建立在主权平等、经济发展和合作双赢基础上的对话和伙伴关系来实现和平与稳定是一带一路倡议的指导原则，也是应对当今国际社会各种挑战的唯一切实可行的方法
文｜日瓦丁·约万诺维奇（Zivadin Jovanovic）贝尔格莱德世界平等论坛主席 翻译｜王晓波
新形势
2017年新年伊始，在“一带一路”倡议下，中东欧国家与中国（即16+1）的合作就得到了进一步加强。作为全面深入合作的新体现，中国银行将其一个境外分行设在了塞尔维亚的贝尔格莱德。从此时开始，中国银行将为所有与其在投资、贸易、旅游和其它领域的合作方提供即时服务。除塞尔维亚外，中行分行的服务还将涉及东南欧其他国家，包括罗马尼亚、保加利亚、希腊、阿尔巴尼亚、马其顿、黑山和波黑。中国银行的实力在世界银行中位居第四，在中国位居第二。
塞尔维亚很久以来就是中国人民的朋友和战略合作伙伴。在“一带一路”倡议刚被提出时，就表示支持，并积极参与了这个框架下的中国与中东欧国家的合作。欧盟已经成为塞尔维亚第一大贸易伙伴。这几年塞尔维亚一直在申请成为欧盟的成员国。因此，从自身的长远利益出发，塞尔维亚非常希望与欧盟和中国保持和谐的合作关系，同时也愿意促进欧盟与中国的友好合作，并在16+1框架下发挥其建设性的作用。
中国与欧盟在双边和国际事务中都保持着战略合作的伙伴关系。2014年，欧盟从中国进口了价值3020亿欧元的货物，同时将1640亿欧元的货物出口到中国。在全球领域，双方更需要密切合作，以找到应对各种问题的解决之道，比如世界经济增长放缓、失业率上升、国际恐怖主义、地区冲突和全球气候变暖等。2014年习近平主席在出访欧洲时曾说过，为了实现欧洲与亚洲市场的一体化，中国应当与欧洲携手合作，使中国和欧盟成为全球经济增长的双引擎。按照欧盟委员会主席容克的观点，欧洲可以从中国的”一带一路”倡议中获得不少益处，因为它可以与欧盟的3150亿欧元的投资计划（2015—2017）互相配合。
兼容性
中东欧国家与中国的合作框架旨在加强和发展中国与中东欧16个国家的合作，它应当被视为是欧盟与中国战略合作的一部分，因此，它既不会与欧盟形成竞争，也不会削弱欧盟内部的一致性。在中东欧这16个国家中，11个是欧盟成员，其余5个也处于申请加入欧盟的不同阶段。在该倡议框架中，中国定义了经济合作方面三个最重要也最具潜力的领域：基础设施建设、高新技术开发和绿色科技，它们与欧盟的发展战略完全吻合。
中东欧地区在地缘政治方面发挥着重要的作用，因为它连接着亚洲、欧洲、地中海地区和波罗地海。事实上，欧洲的这一部分与欧亚大陆的东西部在经济和文化方面联系密切，同时它又处在欧盟的门户位置，有着巨大的发展潜力。中东欧国家中三分之二的国家是欧盟成员国，但他们与欧盟其他国家没有任何利益冲突。他们既遵循欧盟与中国全面战略伙伴关系框架，也服从欧盟在技术、环保、公共采购及其它方面制定的标准。与此同时，大多数中东欧国家响应16+1合作倡议，是为了提高其生产能力、获得更多的投资和实现经济现代化，从而减轻目前与“老欧洲”那些发达国家（德国、法国、意大利、比利时、荷兰、卢森堡）之间经济和技术的严重不平衡。
上述情况对于那五个正在申请加入欧盟的国家（阿尔巴尼亚、波黑、马其顿、黑山和塞尔维亚）来说尤其具有重要的现实意义。他们期望16+1合作倡议能够帮助他们提高产能、增加出口、实现绿色能源生产、更好地保护环境，并且尽快通过有效的方式达到欧盟的其它标准；此外，他们对失业、人才外流、贫困、社会差距增大等棘手问题也充满焦虑。
中东欧国家和中国在“一带一路”倡议下的合作是一个共担责任、共享机遇的良好范例。加强中东欧国家和中国之间的基础设施建设是强化整个欧亚大陆连接的组成部分。双赢的合作和中国在16+1框架下的投资能够帮助中东欧国家提升其经济、技术、能源和绿色发展的标准，否则的话，这些责任只能由这些国家自己和欧盟机构承担。
在一带一路倡议下，对提升效率和促进合作有益的和谐发展计划和经济政策措施仍然是一切工作的重中之重。16+1峰会上成立的协调机构和协会，以及成员国之间的双边磋商，也都要继续在这方面发挥关键性的作用。
“一带一路”倡议下的中东欧国家与中国的合作已经被证明是跨国界基础设施现代化建设和加强中东欧国家间区域连接不可替代的模式。这方面最突出的一个例子就是建造贯穿从塞尔维亚的贝尔格莱德到位于匈牙利的布达佩斯之间的现代化铁路（长达约370公里），这还只是未来连接从希腊比雷埃夫斯港到德国及其它欧洲地区，最终抵达北海和波罗的海的高速铁路中的一段。希腊（比雷埃夫斯港）和其邻国（马其顿共和国、塞尔维亚、匈牙利）的铁路与海上航道的衔接能够将整体航行时间缩短7至11天。中东欧国家和中国在“一带一路”倡议下的合作有着美好的前景，因为它是构建在双赢原则、互相理解、结构灵活和没有任何政治前提基础上的。已经取得的成就鼓舞各国继续在贸易、投资、金融、旅游、教育、农业和人才交流方面展开更多的合作。为了支持“一带一路”倡议下的16+1合作，中国专门设立了投资合作基金，并且提供了100亿美元的信贷额度，这使投资，特别是在基础设施方面的投资，获得了强劲的推动力。中国银行分行设立在各地区的营业网点也有效地提升了现代经济合作的金融环境。这些金融机构和金融工具是互相协同工作的基础，也为在国家和国际层面上进一步加深和扩大合作补充了所需的资源。
欧盟本身正面临着因英国脱欧引发的系统性危机、大量难民的涌入、国际恐怖主义的加剧、货币同盟的不平衡、民族主义和民粹主义的兴起等诸多问题，这些问题虽然严重而且在短期内不可能得到解决，但绝不会影响欧盟与中国继续在经济方面的全面合作，以及16+1倡议内的合作。“一带一路”倡议下的16+1合作的新格局将会成为欧盟与中国全面合作的稳定因素，并为其增添新的活力。事实上，新的形势要求各方都应采取积极的方法，制定更加公开透明的政策，并且加强全球层面、政府层面和智库机构间的广泛对话和协作。总之，对于新时代遇到的新挑战，主动出击、创新思维和协同作战是最好的处理方法。
塞尔维亚与中国之间有着牢固的伙伴关系
塞尔维亚和中国是长期的战略合作伙伴，双方一直在共同感兴趣的领域发展双边和国际合作。塞尔维亚和中国间的关系堪称相互尊重、情深意厚和彼此信赖的杰出典范。
这种友谊和信赖的关系可以通过双方高层始终保持密切的政治对话得到充分体现。2014年，中国总理李克强在参加在塞尔维亚首都贝尔格莱德举办的第三届中国与中东欧峰会时访问了塞尔维亚。2015年，塞尔维亚总统托米斯拉夫·尼科利奇访问了中国，而且塞尔维亚的军队还参加了在北京举行的庆祝中国抗日战争和反法西斯胜利70周年庆典。去年，中国国家主席习近平对塞尔维亚进行了历史性的国事访问，期间两国签署了多达22个不同领域的合作协议，以及一系列文件，其中包括关于建立全面战略伙伴关系的联合宣言。2017年3月，塞尔维亚总统托米斯拉夫·尼科利奇对中国进行了国事访问，会见了习近平主席、李克强总理以及其他国家政要和商界领袖。今年五月现任总理亚历山大·武契奇将赴中国参加一带一路峰会。
塞尔维亚在落实中国与中东欧国家间的各项合作方面正发挥着日益重要的作用。在过去的五年里，两国合作参与了道路、高速公路、铁路、港口、桥梁、隧道、热电厂、钢铁厂的修建或改造，并且加强了人才交流。从今年一月开始，两国公民可以享受互免签证的待遇。一些在塞尔维亚已经完成或正在建设中的基础设施项目对于中东欧区域与欧洲的现代化连通具有极为重要的意义。
一些新的重要项目也正在考虑之中，它们涉及到工业、采矿、交通、食品加工、灌溉、旅游及其它方面。
塞尔维亚与中国在一带一路倡议下的合作也取得了重大成就，充分体现出在“一带一路”倡议下中国与中东欧合作的双赢结果。第一座由中国出资并兴建的横跨多瑙河的桥梁正在塞尔维亚境内建设中，此外还有一些大型桥梁也处在施工阶段。2016年，第一个由中国在欧洲投资建设的钢铁厂已在塞尔维亚的斯梅代雷沃市投入运营，雇用了5000多名工人。第一个由中国在欧洲投资建设的热电厂Kostolac “B”也在塞尔维亚进入施工阶段。中国银行在东南欧地区的第一个分行近期也已经在贝尔格莱德开始营业。塞尔维亚从今年一月开始对中国游客采取免签证政策，这是欧洲国家中第一个这样做的国家。中国公司还参与了许多其它基础设施项目，由于塞尔维亚地处欧洲大陆的十字路口，因此这些横贯大陆的公路、铁路、航空和内河项目对于加强其与欧洲各地的联通非常有帮助。
从这些成就不难看出，塞尔维亚和中国的确是人所共知的“铁哥们儿”。
为了强调人才交流以及文化和科学合作的重要性，两国首脑——托米斯拉夫·尼科利奇和习近平——在2016年6月共同为孔子纪念碑揭幕，并启动了贝尔格莱德中国文化中心的建设。
两国还达成协议，为配合免签证政策，将开通贝尔格莱德与北京和上海的直航。考虑到将有更多的游客在中国与贝尔格莱德及塞尔维亚其它主要城市之间往来，数以百计的有关旅游的信息公告都是用中文进行介绍的。越来越多的塞尔维亚大学生和研究生在中国学习，而与此同时，也有许多中国学生前往塞尔维亚留学。今年三月，来自上海的33所大学参加了由贝尔格莱德州立大学举办的第九届大学博览会。两国间的戏剧、歌剧、博物馆、科研和艺术院校、学生会以及各种民间智库的合作一直都在不断升级，这对增进两国人民的相互认识和了解是大有裨益的。
2017年3月1日，塞尔维亚奥布雷诺瓦茨，工作人员为塞尔维亚总理武契奇（前）
讲解由中企承建的塞尔维亚E763高速公路路线图。
目前最重要的项目
基础设施的现代化建设和人员交往仍是未来在“一带一路”倡议下塞尔维亚与中国合作的重中之重。
已经达成协议的贝尔格莱德与布达佩斯之间的高速铁路（长达378公里）将继续向南延伸，抵达希腊的雅典（即再延长1102公里）。它将穿过几个中东欧国家，为运输压力日益加大的位于地中海的希腊比雷埃夫斯港与中、北欧之间（E-10走廊）提供距离最短的连接。欧洲10号走廊的两个重要分支也将被予以考虑：一个是尼什（塞尔维亚）——索菲亚（保加利亚）——伊斯坦布尔（土耳其）；另一个是塞萨洛尼基（希腊）。
中国与塞尔维亚的公司已经开始合作共建从塞尔维亚的贝尔格莱德到位于黑山亚得里亚海港口的高速公路。这将是一条非常现代化的公路，它的建成不仅可以方便几个中东欧内陆国家（波黑、塞尔维亚、匈牙利、捷克共和国、斯洛伐克）与地中海亚得利亚海港的连接；而且也能为与中国的货物运输和经济合作提供便利；同时它与“三海连接”（亚德里亚海、波罗地海和黑海）项目的出发点也是相吻合的。
贝尔格莱德论坛和丝绸之路连通研究中心都是塞尔维亚的智库机构，也是丝绸之路智库协会的成员，它们都建议对多瑙河内河水域进行战略性开发和现代化建设。因为多瑙河具有巨大的连通性和发展潜力，确实值得优先考虑（它涉及到航行、能源、灌溉、水源保护、食品加工、旅游和文化）。多瑙河是欧洲仅次于伏尔加河的第二大河，而且是黑海与北海间距离最短、成本最低的路线（苏利纳和鹿特丹间的距离仅3500公里）。它流经10个中东欧国家，其中7个是欧盟的成员国，还有其它9个国家位于其流域盆地。多瑙河在塞尔维亚境内的长度是588公里，沿途有7个港口，都具备进行开发和现代化改造的能力。
塞尔维亚与中国的河北钢铁公司有过成功的合作经验，2016年他们共建了斯梅代雷沃钢铁厂，因此塞尔维亚希望双方能继续展开其它类似的合作项目。如果中方能在博尔铜矿业有限公司的基础上与塞方结成战略伙伴或者展开其它方式的合作，那必将产生重要的意义。总之，塞尔维亚目前正在努力恢复和改造在转型期间遭到破坏的工业设施，而且这也有助于为年青人创造就业机会，扩大出口，实现贸易平衡。
双赢峰会
即将在中国举办的一带一路峰会是这里一次最为重要、也最具有建设性的国际会议，它能够反映出全球形势业已发生的变化以及世界经济正面对的新挑战。人们都期待这次会议能充分展现出合作双赢、创新包容和持续发展的政治意愿，同时也为当前正在进行中的“一带一路”倡议下的项目注入新动能，为所有参与国未来的互助和协作指明新方向。
鉴于世界各国间互不信任的状况正在加剧、国际恐怖主义持续蔓延和地区冲突升级的形势，人们还期望一带一路峰会能缓解紧张局势，通过沟通对话和共同承担责任的方式和平解决所有重大危机和问题。因为通过谋求建立在主权平等、经济发展和合作双赢基础上的对话和伙伴关系来实现和平与稳定是一带一路倡议的指导原则，也是应对当今国际社会各种挑战的唯一切实可行的方法。
由中国国家主席习近平提议召开的一带一路峰会一定会传递出积极理性思考和建设性行动的信息，并将成为一次倡导合作双赢、建立战略伙伴关系和实现包容性发展的峰会。
Win Win Summit
by Zivadin Jovanovic，Belgrade Forum for World of Equals, Silk Road Connectivity Research Center
(COREC)
New quality
The beginning of 2017 has marked furtherstrengthening of cooperation between CEEC and China (16+1) under the OBORInitiative. Illustrative of the progress, comprehensiveness and new quality ofcooperation has been recent opening of the Bank of China's branch headquarteredin Belgrade, Serbia. From now on The Bank of China will provide on the spotbanking services to all agents of cooperation in investments, trade, tourismand other fields. In addition to Serbia, the Bank's branch will cover othercountries in South East Europe – Rumania, Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, FYROM,Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and others. The Bank of China is the forthstrongest bank in the world and second strongest in China.
Serbia is long time friend and strategicpartner of China, very active participant in cooperation China-CEEC under OBORsince the inception of the Initiative. At the same time EU has been Serbia'sNo. 1 trade partner and Serbia has been some years now the candidate for EU membership.Naturally, Serbia's long term interests are to harmonize own cooperation withboth EU and China, to contribute to the harmonization of EU – Chinacooperation and to strengthen its constructive role within 16+1.
China and European Union (EU) are strategic partners cooperating onbilateral and global issues. In 2014, EU imported ˇ302 billionof goods from China and exported ˇ164 billion of goods to China. On the global plan there is need foreven more intensive cooperation in finding appropriate solutions to suchproblems as slowing down of the world economy, growing unemployment,international terrorism, regional conflicts and global warming. During his 2014visit to Europe President Xi Jinping said that China would cooperate withEurope so as to integrate European and Asian markets and to make China and theEU the twin engines for global economic growth. According to the EuropeanCommission President Jean Claude Junker, Europe can benefit from the ChineseOBOR Initiative as it can interact with the EU ˇ315 billionInvestment Plan (2015-2017).
Compatibility
CEEC-China cooperation format aimed atintensifying and expanding cooperation between China and l6 countries ofCentral and East Europe should be regarded as part and parcel of EU-Chinastrategic cooperation, certainly not as a concurrence or weakening of internalEU coherence. Out of the 16 CEE countries, 11 are EU Member States while 5countries are on various stages of the membership candidacy status. In theframework of the initiative, China has defined three potential priority areasfor economic cooperation: infrastructure, high technologies, and greentechnologies which all make parts of EU strategy.
CEE sub-region plays role of a geopoliticalbridge connecting Asia, Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Baltic. In fact,this part of Europe is economic and cultural connection between the West andEast of Euro-Asia, gateway to EU with huge development potential still to befully activated.
Two thirds of CEE countries which are fullEU members do not see any conflict of interest with the rest of EU members.They follow the framework of EU – China comprehensive strategic partnership; they comply withtechnology, environment protection, public procurement and other EU standards.At the same time the most of CEE countries approach cooperation within l6+1Initiative as the way to attain higher productivity, investments and economicmodernization in order to alleviate existing economic and technologicalmisbalances with much higher developed countries of the ‘Old Europe’ (Germany,France, Italy, Benelux).
All this is particularly true in the caseof those five countries which are still in the EU candidate's status (Albania,Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYROM, Montenegro and Serbia). No wonder that theyperceive cooperation within 16+1 Initiative as helping them to achieve higherproductivity and export potential, green energy production, environment protection and many other EUstandards in a more efficient way and in shorter period of time. Not to mentiontheir anxiety to diminish burning problems of unemployment, high ratesemigration (“brain drain”), poverty, growing social gaps and alike.
CEEC-China cooperation under OBOR is goodexample of shared responsibilities and opportunities. Strengthening ofinfrastructure connectivity between CEEC and China is integral part ofstrengthening overall connectivity throughout Euro-Asia. Win win cooperationand Chinese investments within 16+1 helps CEEC to acquire economic,technological, energy, green development standards which, otherwise, wouldremain sole responsibility of countries concerned and EU institutions.
Harmonizing development plans and economicpolicy measures wherever it is necessary for upgrading efficiency andfacilitating cooperation under Belt and Road Initiative remains a continuouspriority task. Coordinating bodies and associations established by 16+1Summits, as well as bilateral consultations among member countries, willcontinuously play crucial role in this regard.
CEEC – China cooperationunder OBOR has proved very irreplaceable in modernization of trans-boarderinfrastructure and strengthening of sub regional connectivity among CEEcountries themselves. Excellent example in this regard is modernization ofrailway between Belgrade, Serbia and Budapest, Hungary (about 370km). This isonly a part of the future high speed railway connection line from Port ofPireus, Greece, to Germany and other European destination, up to ports of Northand Baltic Seas. The combination of railways between Greece (Pireus) andneighboring countries (FYROM, Serbia, Hungary) and sea-lanes will shorten thetime of shipment to 7-11 days.
Cooperation CEEC – China underOBOR has excellent perspectives because it is based on win win principle,mutual understanding, flexible organization and without any politicalpreconditions. Great achievements in practice are the best encouragement forfurther enhancement of cooperation in trade, investment, finance, tourism,education, agriculture and people to people exchange. Investments, particularlyin infrastructure, have received strong impetus after China has opened aspecial credit line of 10 billion US dollars and establishment of InvestmentCooperation Fund in support of cooperation 16+1 under OBOR Initiative. Openingsof sub-regional Chinese banks' branches completed on the spot financialservices needed in modern economic cooperation. These financial tools, inaddition to organizational ones, represent the basis for network of synergy,including appearance of additional resources from national or internationalsources for continuous expansion of overall cooperation.
EU itself is undergoing period ofsystematic crisis provoked by Brexit, massive immigration, expansion ofinternational terrorism, monetary union imbalances, rise of nationalism andpopulism and alike. These, however serious and long term problems, should in noway diminish common efforts for continuous strengthening of EU – Chinaoverall economic cooperation, as well as cooperation within the 16+1Initiative. In the new conditions cooperation 16+1 under OBOR should be furtherreinforced as a factor of stability and source of dynamism for overall EU – Chinacooperation. New situation calls uponfor active approach of all sides, for more not less openness, forintensification of dialogue and coordination on global, government agencies andthink tanks levels. Pro-active approach, creation of new ideas and newsynergies is the best response to the challenges of new era.
Serbia and China – steel partners
Serbia and China are traditional strategicpartners steadily developing bilateral and international cooperation in allfields of mutual interest. Serbian-Chinese relations are brilliant example ofmutual respect, friendship and profound mutual trust.
The true nature of friendly relation,mutual trust is mirrored by continuous intensive political dialogue on thehighest level. The Prime Minister of China Li Keqiang visited Serbia in 2014when Serbia's capital City of Belgrade was the venue of the third China-CEESummit. In 2015 the President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic visited China andcontingent of Serbian Army participated at the celebration of 70 years sincethe liberation of China from Japanese occupation and victory over fascism, inBeijing. Last year President of the Republic of China Xi Jinping paid historicstate visit to Serbia during which 22 different agreements on cooperationbetween the two countries were signed. The set of documents includes, also,Joint Declaration on establishment of comprehensive strategic partnership. InMarch 2017 Serbia's President Tomislav Nikolic paid official visit to Chinameeting President Xi Jin Ping, Prime Minister Li Keqiang, other statedignitaries and business community leaders in Beijing. This May the PrimeMinister Aleksandar Vucic is expected to attend the OBOR Initiative Summit inChina.
Serbia's role in the implementation of theChina – CEE cooperation under OBOR is growing. In the past five years only,business partners from the two countries have been constructing or modernizingroads, highways, railways, ports, bridges, tunnels, thermo-electric plant,steel production, strengthening people to people exchanges. As of January this year, no-visa system forcitizens of the two countries came into force. A number of infrastructureprojects, already implemented, or under implementation in Serbia, are highlyimportant for modernization of connectivity in the CEE sub-region and inEurope.
New important projects are underconsideration for implementation in the future concerning industry, mining,transport, food production, irrigation, tourism and other.
Cooperation between Serbia and China underthe Belt and Road Initiative is an inspiring example of great achievements ofwin win cooperation within China+CEEC under OBOR initiative. FirstChinese-built and financed Bridge in Europe was constructed in Serbia, overDanube River, while a number of other major bridges are under construction; asof 2016 the first Chinese steel factory in Europe operates in Serbia in theCity of Smederevo, employing over 5,000 workers. First Chinese built andfinanced thermo power plant in Europe, Kostolac “B” is under construction in Serbia; first Bankof China's branch in South East Europe has been recently opened in Belgrade;Serbia is the first European country which has abolished visa for visitors from China as of January this year. Chinesecompanies have been engaged in many other infrastructure projects thusstrengthening connectivity potentials of Serbia as a crossroad of European andtranscontinental highways, railways, air-ways and inland water ways.
No wonder that, in the light of such uniqueachievements, Serbia and China have been publically characterized as “steelpartners”.
To underline the importance of people topeople exchange, cultural and scientific cooperation, the two heads of States -Tomislav Nikolic and Xi Jinping – in June 2016, have officially unveiled the Confucius monument andinitiated construction of the Chinese Cultural Center in Belgrade. In March2017 it was announced that Serbia is going to open own Cultural Center in Beijing.
Two countries agreed also to open directair flights Belgrade-Beijing (Shanghai) thus complimenting no visa system,already in force. Expecting the growing number of tourists from China, Belgradeand other major cities of Serbia have, already placed hundreds of informationboards featuring tourist information inscribed in Chinese language. More andmore Serbian students and postgraduates have been educated in China and viceversa. In March this year 33 universities from Shanghai were introduced at theNinth Shanghai Universities Fair held at the Belgrade State University.Theaters, operas, museums, academies of science and arts, students associationsand think tanks have been steadily upgrading cooperation helping the public ofboth countries to know and understand each other better.
Some priorities
Modernization of infrastructure and peopleto people connectivity should remain top priority for future Serbia – Chinacooperation under OBOR Initiative.
High speeds railway Belgrade – Budapest(378km), which has been agreed upon, should be expanded to the south up toAthens, Greece (another 1.102km). It would be crossing several CEE countriesproviding the shortest connection between the falsest growing Mediterraneanport of Piraeus (Greece), and Centraland Northern Europe (Corridor E-10). Two important branches of Europeancorridor 10 should be also taken in consideration: 1. Nis (Serbia)-Sophia(Bulgaria)-Istanbul (Turkey); and 2. Thessaloniki (Greece).
Chinese and Serbian companies have alreadybeen involved in construction of portions of the highway Belgrade (Serbia) –Bar(Adriatic Sea port, Montenegro). Completing this highway and adding tomodernization of the railway, would not only provide rational access of several land locked CEEC to Adriatic(Mediterranean) Sea (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Hungary, Check Republic,Slovakia), but would also rationalize transport of goods and economiccooperation with China, in general. Finally, it would be compatible with theproject of “Three Seas” (Adriatic, Black and Baltic Seas).
The Belgrade Forum and COREC, being Serbianthink tanks and members of Silk Road Think Tank Association (SRTA), haveproposed development and modernization of the Danube River inland waterstrategic European transport corridor. Danube River commends enormousconnectivity and development potentials which deserve priority consideration(navigation, energy, irrigation, water preservation, food production, tourism,culture). Danube is the second longest river in Europe, next to Volga and farthe shortest, low cost transport route between Black Sea and North Sea (Sulina – Rotterdam3,500km). It flows through 10 CEE countries, 7 of which are EU members, while 9others belong to the drainage basin. Danube's length through Serbia is 588 kmwith seven ports, all needing modernization and expansion of capacities.
Positive experience with Chinese HesteelCo. which has undertaken Smederevo Steel Factory in 2016 has encouraged inSerbia new similar ideas regarding some other big industries. In this regard,it would be important if partners from China would consider entering strategicpartnership, or other form of cooperation regarding Bor Cupper Mining Company.Generally, Serbia is trying very hard to recuperate and modernize industry whichhas been devastated during the transition period. This is perceived as the wayto provide rising employment for young qualified people and expand export toachieve better trade balance.
Win win Summit
The Belt and Road Summit in China will bethe most important, constructive international conference reflecting globalchanges and new challenges in the world economy. It is expected to demonstratestrong political will in favor of win win cooperation, innovative, inclusiveand sustainable development. No doubt that it will give new energy to theimplementation of all current OBOR Initiative projects and open new horizonsfor future cooperation and coordination of participating countries.
Considering growing mistrust in the world,spreading of international terrorism and worsening of regional crisis it isexpected that the OBOR Summit will contribute to easing of tensions, givingplace to dialogue and shared responsibility in resolving peacefully all major crisisand problems. Peace and stability through dialogue, partnership based onsovereign equality, economic development and win win cooperation is guidingprinciple of OBOR Initiative and the only viable response to present challengesof the world community.
The OBOR Summit initiated by China'sPresident Xi jinping will certainly send unique massage of reason, positivethinking and constructive acting. It will be the Summit of win win cooperation,partnership and all inclusive development.