PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT WORTH 800 MILLION EUROS

SARAJEVO, APRIL 6 /SRNA/ - The BiH Ambassador to China, Siniša Berjan, told SRNA that active preparations are underway for the implementation of an important project worth 800 million Euros following the signing of an agreement on strategic partnership between the Republika Srpska Government and a Chinese business group in the field of renewable energy sources.

Berjan emphasized that continuous efforts were made last year to strengthen cooperation in various fields and that efforts to improve the image of Republika Srpska and BiH in China will continue this year, as well as the building of strong political, economic, tourist, cultural, and academic ties.

He says that the past year was exceptionally dynamic and filled with numerous activities that significantly improved the relations between BiH and China, and that the Embassy continuously worked on strengthening cooperation in various fields, including politics, economics, culture, education, and healthcare.

“One of the more significant events was a visit by a delegation from Gansu Province, led by the Vice Governor, to Republika Srpska. This visit resulted in the signing of a Cooperation Agreement with Gansu Province, which has 26 million inhabitants, thus laying a solid foundation for further cooperation,” Berjan said.

During the previous year, Berjan added, the Embassy successfully established partnership relations between local communities in Republika Srpska and major Chinese cities.

Berjan emphasized that these cities are East Sarajevo, Laktaši, and Trebinje, which signed twinning agreements with their Chinese counterparts, thus laying a solid foundation for the development of cooperation in various fields such as economics, culture, and tourism.

As a result of the efforts and engagement of the Embassy, Berjan says that a visit was organized for about thirty representatives of Chinese companies to Republika Srpska, as well as their participation in the Republika Srpska Investment Forum on Mount Jahorina.

In the field of education, Berjan mentioned that four agreements were signed between two public universities from Republika Srpska and several prestigious Chinese universities. Additionally, academic exchanges were organized, and the Ambassador delivered lectures at multiple Chinese universities.

"In the healthcare sector, the Embassy facilitated the establishment of cooperation between healthcare institutions in Republika Srpska and Chinese hospitals, such as the cooperation between the 'Srbija' Hospital in East Sarajevo and the Central General Hospital in the major city of Cangzhou, as well as the cooperation between the University Clinical Center in Banja Luka and the Main Hospital in Gansu Province," Berjan emphasized.

Regarding cultural activities, Berjan says that the BiH Embassy organized more than 20 events, mostly in collaboration with Chinese youth, during which the history, culture, tourist attractions, gastronomy, traditions, and customs of Republika Srpska and BiH were successfully presented.

"We established excellent communication with Chinese media, which provide exceptional visibility for us in the Chinese media space. The Chinese media play a significant role in promoting our country in China. I had the opportunity to give several interviews and participate as a speaker at many events," Berjan said.

In order to attract Chinese tourists, who, like Japanese tourists, are known for their love of animated characters, Berjan emphasized that a BiH mascot was presented during his meeting with Chinese officials, the media, and a broader audience.

"I designed the mascot during my previous tenure in Japan, and it reflects important elements representing Republika Srpska and BiH, such as the Zmijanje embroidery, Sarajevo-Romanija wool sock, and the old bridge in Višegrad. This is the first time an embassy in China has applied such an innovative marketing strategy," said the Ambassador of BiH to China.

Berjan says that this year, which holds high expectations, began excellently, marked by the twinning of Brod Municipality from Republika Srpska with the Chinese city of Pizhou, home to approximately 1.46 million residents, and with the Xinan District, which encompasses 14 cities. Numerous joint activities were agreed upon during the visit of Brod's mayor to China.

"I expect that new twinning agreements will be signed as early as the first half of this year, with the mediation of the Embassy. Also, concrete activities and mutual visits by local community representatives are being arranged," Berjan said.

According to him, work will continue this year with Chinese partners on facilitating high-level and top-level visits, with the participation of political and business representatives from BiH in the most important political and economic events in China also planned.