Seventh meeting of national coordinators for cooperation between Central and Eastern European Countries and China

Hainan, Haikou (24 June 2016) – Seventh meeting of the national coordinators for cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe is held today in the capital of the Chinese province of Hainan, Haikou. Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister for economic policy and financial system and the national coordinator of Montenegro Goran Jovetić represented Montenegro.

Coordinator Jovetić pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, friendship between Montenegro and China was constantly reinforced and assessed that the Initiative 16+1 further strengthened this cooperation and gave it a new dynamic. He expressed satisfaction that a number of activities were implemented this year under this mechanism both at the institutional and at the individual level.

Jovetić said that Montenegro highly appreciates Chinese efforts to strengthen comprehensive cooperation, especially in tourism and infrastructure, which resulted in the increase of the number of tourists from China to 68.4% in 2015, compared to 2014. He conveyed Montenegro's commitment to further strengthen cooperation in this field and suggested the second forum of Central and Eastern European mayors to be organised in Montenegro.

Montenegrin coordinator expressed satisfaction with the cooperation on the project of the highway Bar – Boljare, which is implemented in a timely manner and reiterated Montenegro's interest to expand cooperation in the field of infrastructure to other projects (reconstruction of the railway line from Bar to Belgrade, the construction of an industrial park in the Port of Bar and the construction of the Adriatic-Ionian highway through Montenegro).

The Ambassador of Montenegro in China Branko Perović and Head of the Minister of Transport and Maritime Affairs Office Maja Mijušković are also in the Montenegrin delegation.