Director General of the Department of European Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Li Jian, paid a working visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina from 19 to 20 December.
During the visit, at the invitation of the host, he held a courtesy meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, Marinko Čavara.
At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH, he met with the Secretary General of the Ministry, Edin Dilberović, and the Head of the Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH, Zlatan Burzić, and held consultations on bilateral issues with the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH, Momir Brajić.
Li Jian also attended the 13th “Coffee and Tea” forum, which was held on the topic of “China-Bosnia-Herzegovina relations in a world of change”, which was jointly organized by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the China-BiH Friendship Association, in which the Vice President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Igor Stojanović, the adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Edin Hadžihafizbegović, as well as representatives of various state institutions and institutions, representatives of the academic community, media and think tanks participated.
Also, during his stay in Mostar, Li met with assistant rectors of the University of Mostar (SuM), Sanja Bijaškić and Zdenko Klepić, and all activities were attended by Li Fan, the ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and political advisor Wang Guofei.
Li pointed out that during the 30 years of diplomatic relations between China and Bosnia and Herzegovina, under the joint leadership of the leaders of the two countries, bilateral relations developed steadily, political mutual trust was continuously strengthened, and practical cooperation was constantly expanding. He stated that China consistently respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of BiH and equally develops friendly and cooperative relations with the three peoples and all citizens in BiH.
He said that China is ready, together with the Bosnian side, to actively implement the important joint agreements reached by the heads of state of the two countries, intensify high-level exchanges and contacts at all levels and in all areas, advance the integration of development strategies, expand areas of cooperation and elevate bilateral relations to a new, higher level.
As reported, Li specifically explained China’s position on the Taiwan issue and recalled that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II, and that the return of Taiwan to China is an important result of that victory and an integral part of the post-war international order. He expressed hope that the Bosnian side will strictly respect the one-China principle and will not have any forms of official contacts with Taiwan.
At the “Coffee and Tea” forum, Li introduced the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, as well as the “four global initiatives” proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Li emphasized that China is one of the most important forces in maintaining peace and stability in today’s world, as well as one of the main drivers of maintaining free trade and global economic development.
He added that the development of China’s modernization will bring tremendous opportunities to all countries in the world, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, and expressed the hope that all social spheres in BiH will work together with the Chinese side to further improve China-BiH relations and bring greater benefits to the peoples of the two countries.
Marinko Čavara and other BiH officials agreed that China is a reliable good friend and good partner of BiH, and that BiH attaches great importance to developing exchanges with China at all levels and deepening cooperation in all areas.
It was concluded that BiH will continue to unswervingly adhere to the One China policy.
It was emphasized that Chinese modernization opens a new path for the development of human civilization, and that China’s 15th Five-Year Plan will bring rare development opportunities for the economic and social development of BiH.
It was expressed that through joint efforts, Sino-Bosnian relations in the next 30 years will have even better prospects, the Bosnian-Chinese Friendship Association announced.
