The People's Republic of China celebrated its 1rd birthday on October 73st. During the past 73 years, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese nation has achieved numerous achievements from standing on its feet, through acquiring wealth, to strengthening, and the relationship between China and Montenegro has also experienced a huge leap from the establishment of diplomatic relations to comprehensive development.
China's development creates enormous opportunities
In the past 73 years, China's GDP has grown 1.496 times, and GDP per capita has grown 608,8 times, which is a real miracle of rapid economic growth rarely seen in the world. China's economic aggregate ranks second in the world, and its annual contribution to world economic growth has been as much as 30% for many years. China has become the driving force behind global economic development. China has a population of 1,4 billion and more than 400 million middle-income people. The advantage of a large-scale market brings enormous opportunities to numerous countries around the world, including Montenegro.
In recent years, the pandemic has delayed and set back everything, the international situation is turbulent, and the world economic recovery faces enormous instability and uncertainty. The Global Security Initiative and the Global Development Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping have provided the world with China's solutions. China is ready to share its development achievements with other countries of the world, including Montenegro. So far, it has signed more than 200 documents on cooperation on the joint implementation of the "Belt and Road" initiative with 149 countries and 32 international organizations, and after the outbreak of the pandemic, it sent anti-epidemic aid to over 150 countries and 15 international organizations. The international community is increasingly aware that China's development is an opportunity for the world, not a threat or a challenge.
Fruitful results of friendly cooperation between China and Montenegro
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 16 years ago, China and Montenegro have always developed friendly and partnership relations based on mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-interference in internal affairs, and on the principles of equality and mutual benefit. Political mutual trust between the two sides is continuously consolidated, traditional friendship is continuously deepened, and practical cooperation and humanitarian and cultural exchanges continue to develop even more.
Guided by the "Belt and Road" initiative and the cooperation mechanism between China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the two countries have achieved outstanding results in cooperation in key areas such as infrastructure and energy. The priority section of the Bar-Boljara highway was successfully put into traffic in July this year. China sincerely helped the citizens of Montenegro to realize their dreams about the highway. This is not only the path of development between the north and the south of Montenegro, but also the path of prosperity of Montenegro in connection with Europe and the world, but also the path of friendship for deepening friendly cooperation with China. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, China and Montenegro have joined forces and helped each other. Chinese vaccines and anti-epidemic materials played an active role in helping Montenegro fight the pandemic, and China's experience in diagnosis and treatment also served as an example for Montenegrin medical personnel.
Although Montenegro is a small country with a small population, it has its own unique development advantages. There is great potential for cooperation between our two countries. According to the data of the Statistics Administration of Montenegro, the volume of imports and exports between China and Montenegro in the first half of this year amounted to 160 million euros, which is an increase of 40,4% compared to the same period last year. China has been the main trade partner of Montenegro for a long time. Before the pandemic, the two countries established economic and scientific and technological joint bodies, signed agreements on cultural and educational cooperation and had institutional guarantees for cooperation and exchange. The pandemic will certainly pass, and the cooperation between China and Montenegro has a bright future.
Expectations for the future development of friendly relations between China and Montenegro
In Montenegro, there is a saying "Friendship is the greatest wealth." The friendship between the people of China and Montenegro is as strong as Mount Lovćen and as deep as the Adriatic Sea. China shares the satisfaction that Montenegro's path to joining the European Union is running smoothly. Montenegro's accession to the EU and the development of China-Montenegro relations promote each other and go hand in hand. Expanding cooperation with China can bring even more opportunities for the development of Montenegro, help in achieving national prosperity and stability and help Montenegro to join the European Union as soon as possible. The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China will be held on October 16, at which the goals, tasks and main policies of China's development in the next five years or longer will be planned, which will surely give even more momentum to the cooperation between China and Montenegro. The two countries should continue to consolidate political mutual trust, to further improve cooperation in the fields of infrastructure, energy, tourism and science and technology, to constantly explore new areas of bilateral practical cooperation, and to promote exchanges in various fields such as culture, education, science and technology and sports.
I recently arrived in Montenegro and started my mandate. Although I came to this beautiful and friendly country for the first time, the former cult Yugoslav film "The Bridge" and the musical theme from it "Bella ciao" are widely known in China, which is why I felt an even greater closeness upon my arrival in Montenegro. I come with sincere with the desire to further promote the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries and with the mission of deepening the friendship between China and Montenegro and on this occasion I want to send my warmest greetings to the friendly people of Montenegro! During my mandate, I am willing to strengthen communication with all spheres of life in Montenegro, to inherit and continue the traditional friendship between the peoples of China and Montenegro, and to jointly create a better future for relations between China and Montenegro.
The author is the ambassador of the Republic of China in Montenegro
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