PMs Marković, Li: Montenegro and China interested in continuing construction of Bar - Boljare motorway

Budapest, Hungary (27 November 2017) -- Prime Minister Duško Marković and Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Li Keqiang agreed that both countries and governments are interested in the construction of the second section of the Bar-Boljare motorway after the completion of the first one according to a model of public-private partnership between the State of Montenegro and interested Chinese companies.

At a meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the Sixth China-CEEC Summit in Budapest, prime ministers Marković and Li concluded that the motorway project is progressing well and is an example of successful cooperation between the two countries and governments, noting that Montenegro and China see significant room for deepening cooperation, especially in the fields of energy, transport, tourism and agriculture.

"We have made significant progress in the field of infrastructure that paves the way for successful cooperation in other fields. The Government of China will encourage our companies to work intensively with Montenegro," said Prime Minister Li, adding that China is interested in establishing cooperation with Montenegro in other major infrastructure projects as well.

Prime Minister Marković thanked the Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China for his personal engagement, saying that the excellent results of the CRBC in terms of construction of the motorway were welcomed by wider Montenegrin public.

Prime Minister Li thanked his Montenegrin counterpart Marković for Montenegro's support for the 16 + 1 Mechanism and congratulated him on the results accomplished by the Government of Montenegro in the first year of the mandate, putting particular emphasis on notable economic growth, which is above the average of many European countries.

Prime Minister of Montenegro met yesterday with representatives of the Chinese CCCC and CRBC.

It was concluded that the motorway project is advancing well, that both the dynamics of the works and the achieved results are remarkable, and that the Government of Montenegro and the CCCC and CRBC are interested in continuing their cooperation within the model of public-private partnership. In that context, it was agreed to set up a special joint team to open talks on aspects of cooperation in order to start the construction of the next section of the motorway immediately after the completion of the first one.

The Montenegrin side voiced interest in discussing the construction of a bypass around Tivat and the Verige bridge with its Chinese partners.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO