LI: CHINA READY TO DEEPEN STRATEGIC COOPERATION WITH BiH

Li pointed out that China is a market of enormous potential, noting that total retail sales of consumer goods exceeded 50 trillion yuan last year, while more than 23 million passenger vehicles were sold over the same period Prepared by: Goran JANJIĆ SARAJEVO, OCTOBER 1 /SRNA/ - Chinese Ambassador to BiH Li Fan has said that China is ready to promote strategic connectivity with BiH, stressing that the two sides are expanding cooperation in artificial intelligence, the digital economy and agricultural modernization. In an interview with SRNA, Li said renewable energy projects, such as the "Ivovik" power plant and the solar power plant in Bileća, are being successfully implemented and are contributing to BiH's green energy transition, while Chinese companies are actively participating in infrastructure construction, including Corridor "5c", helping improve BiH's connectivity with neighboring countries. "The Sveti apostol Luka Hospital in Doboj has been built and put into operation, benefiting around 330,000 residents of the city and surrounding areas," Li said. Speaking about the global arena, Li stressed that China and BiH consistently advocate preserving the international system with the UN at its core and the international order based on international law, while at the same time maintaining communication and coordination on issues such as advancing sustainable development, promoting regional peace and strengthening the representation of countries of the Global South, jointly sending a message of support for multilateralism. "Proceeding from the specific circumstances in BiH and the fundamental interests of its people, China has consistently called for differences to be overcome through inclusive dialogue and for long-term peace and stability in the Western Balkans to be preserved," Li stressed. Li emphasized that China consistently and firmly respects the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of BiH and believes that matters concerning BiH should be decided independently by BiH itself, while opposing interference by external forces in the country's internal governance processes. BUILDING A FAIRER, MORE REASONABLE GLOBAL GOVERNANCE SYSTEM A SHARED EXPECTATION The Chinese ambassador stressed that the Global Governance Initiative, launched last year, has produced substantial results, noting that a consistent commitment to multilateralism is a broadly accepted consensus and that building a fairer and more reasonable global governance system is a shared expectation. China and BiH, she said, are working to translate the concepts of the Global Governance Initiative into concrete results, relying on high-quality joint development of the "Belt and Road" Initiative and the cooperation mechanism with Central and Eastern European countries. "China is ready to promote strategic connectivity with BiH and Europe so that we can strengthen one another while also contributing to a stronger world, and the results of the Global Governance Initiative show that joint consultation, contribution and shared benefits meet the common expectations of the international community," the Chinese ambassador to BiH said. She explained that the Global Governance Initiative focuses on five key areas, the first being implementation of the principle of sovereign equality, under which all countries, regardless of their size, strength or level of development, should participate equally in global governance and decision-making and share in its benefits. "It is necessary to advance the democratization of international relations and strengthen the representation and voice of developing countries," Li stressed. The second area of the initiative, she pointed out, is respect for the international rule of law, under which universally recognized basic norms of international relations, including the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, should be comprehensively, fully and consistently observed, while ensuring the equal and consistent application of international law. She stressed that double standards should not be applied, nor should the "domestic rules" of a handful of countries be imposed on others. "Third is the practice of multilateralism. It is necessary to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, oppose unilateralism and fully enable the UN to play its irreplaceable and important role in global governance," Li said. According to her, the fourth area is a people-centered approach, under which the global governance system should be reformed and improved to ensure that all peoples participate in global governance and jointly share in its results. "Fifth is an action-oriented approach. It is necessary to fully mobilize the resources of all sides and achieve more concrete and visible results, and through practical cooperation avoid lagging behind and fragmentation in global governance," the ambassador stressed. CHINA ADVOCATES EQUAL AND ORDERLY MULTIPOLARITY The Chinese ambassador to BiH also said that China advocates an equal and orderly multipolar world, which can be summarized in four key concepts - equal treatment, the international rule of law, multilateralism, and openness and cooperation. "China believes that all countries, large or small, should be equal, and calls for strengthening the representation and voice of developing countries in the international system. This will not lead to an absence of the West, but will contribute to a positive-sum outcome for the entire world. The voice of every country should be heard, and every country can find its place in a multipolar order and have its own role," Li stressed. Speaking about the concept of the international rule of law, she explained that a multipolar order cannot be a condition without order and rules, noting that if there are no rules, then the one who "sat at the table yesterday may find themselves on the menu tomorrow." "Major countries should lead by example in respecting credibility and the rule of law and firmly reject discrepancies between words and deeds, as well as zero-sum games," the Chinese ambassador to BiH said. According to her, an equal and orderly multipolar world should be underpinned by economic globalization that benefits everyone and is inclusive. CHINA A MARKET OF ENORMOUS POTENTIAL She stressed that China is a market of enormous potential, characterized by both scale and innovation, noting that total retail sales of consumer goods exceeded 50 trillion yuan last year, while more than 23 million passenger vehicles were sold over the same period. "On the other hand, technological and industrial innovation are becoming ever more deeply integrated. In 2025, the value of China's core artificial intelligence industry exceeded 1.2 trillion yuan, while the number of companies in this sector surpassed 6,200", she stressed. Li said industries of the future, such as intelligent and connected vehicles, the low-altitude economy and embodied intelligence, are rapidly moving out of laboratories and into practical application.