Chairman Zvizdić at Prime Ministers 16 + 1 Summit in Sofia

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH Dr Denis Zvizdić leads the delegation of the Council of Ministers of BIH participating at the 7th Summit of 16 Prime Ministers of the Central and Eastern Europe with Prime minister of the People’s Republic of China (16 + 1), taking place today in Sofia, Bulgarian capital. Chairman Zvizdić took part at the Plenary Meeting of the 16+1 participating countries Heads of Governments. The entire address by Chairman Zvizdić follows below: 

Honourable Prime Minister Keqiang,

Honourable Prime Minister Borissov,

Dear Colleagues Prime Ministers,

Ladies and gentlemen,

First of all I want to thank to and commend hosts for a very successful organisation of the 7^th Summit China and 16 Central and Eastern European countries. I reserve special thanks and appreciation for this extremely important Initiative of the People’s Republic of China, for your persistence and huge engagement in view of strengthening of mutual relations and cooperation amongst our countries, in which Bosnia and Herzegovina with great pleasure takes an active part.

Our friendly cooperation, linking two continents and covering one fifth of the world population unfolds in the political, cultural, social and economic domains, and Bosnia and Herzegovina is utterly interested to continue further improvement and boosting of ties with the People’s Republic of China and countries of the Central and Eastern Europe. Therefore I express my great satisfaction for this Initiative continues to develop and strengthen, and I emphasise the commitment of Bosnia and Herzegovina to further overall cooperation within the 16+1 mechanism.

The Seventh Summit proves the sustainability of our partner relationship and it is a reliable road to strengthening of our bilateral, primarily economic relations.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country which highest foreign policy aim si getting the candidate status for membership in the European Union, and in regard to that we work continuously on fulfilment of requirements set by the European Union. In that sense, we continue implementation of a number of reform measures. The reforms we implement have already yielded positive moves, of which I would especially single out the 3 % GDP growth, along with the creation of almost 50,000 new jobs. All vital economic indices in Bosnia and Herzegovina, such as growth of export, industrial production ad tourisms are in the up-ward trend. We are hopeful to get a positive opinion by the European Commission for getting the candidate status in the first half of 2019.

I would especially point out our interest for further continuation and intensification of our economic cooperation. We have signed a number of important treaties and improved our relations within the “One Belt – One Road” process. New possibilities are now open for connecting businessmen form our countries, and investments were incited, especially in the energy and infrastructure sectors. I am very proud of the fact that Chinese citizens may now visit Bosnia and Herzegovina visa-free, which facilitate their movements and which will surely contribute to an increased number of tourists, in addition to making it easier to businessmen and investors to travel to BIH. That is the reason why I am very interested in setting-up a direct air line Beijing-Sarajevo.

Other than tourism, energy and transport sectors remain our priority sectors, as they are holders of our major potentials for both domestic and foreign investments.

Further unfolding of the process opens the way to realisation of many projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in forgeable future. Bosnia and Herzegovina companies took part for the fourth time in a row at the “CHINA-CEEC EXPO” Investments and Trade Fair, this y ear held in the city of Ningbo, China, in early June. Important to note that Bosnia and Herzegovina completed negotiations with China on cooperation in the area of veterinary service, which will enable our companies exit to our two markets. Today’s signing of a Contract on Cooperation in the Area of Animal Health and Quarantine between the People’s Republic of china and Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina represents an important step towards the aim.

We are happy for the fact that the 2019 International Economic Fair in Mostar will have the People’s Republic of China as its partner country. In that regard, I avail myself of the opportunity to invite you all to come to Bosnia and Herzegovina next year and participate at the event.

A date was set - November 5-8, 2918 - as the date of a Conference on Innovations 16+1, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia and Herzegovina is particularly interested for organisation of the 4^th Conference of Transport Ministers of China and the Central and Eastern European Countries, next year. I also have a pleasure to invite you to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina during the event.

I expect significant results of the and follow-up activities from this event at the Heads of Governments level of People’s Republic of China and 16 CEEC in Sofia, which will be of a great importance for our future cooperation and will contribute to ideas of strengthening of economic ties of Europe and China.

Towards the aim of even higher joint achievements and success stories, Bosnia and Herzegovina will offer a full support to all future activities within the 16 + 1 mechanisms and Belt and Road Initiative.

Once again, let me extend my appreciation and gratitude to our host, Prime Minister Borissov and Government of the Republic of Bulgaria for the exceptionally good  organisation of this year’s Summit.

Thank you for your attention!

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