Cooperation between China and Montenegro has never been conditioned by any political demands, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Montenegro announced today.
He said this in response to the claims made by the outgoing United States (US) Ambassador to Montenegro, Judy Rising Reinke, in an interview with "Vijesti" on January 14th.
"A recently departing colleague from the diplomatic corps, on the eve of her departure, did not leave Montenegro with constructive thoughts, but instead made statements that distort facts and denigrate China regarding China's role in Arctic issues, practical cooperation between China and Montenegro, as well as relevant geopolitical topics," the Chinese embassy spokesperson said in a statement.
According to him, in order to clarify the facts and bring the truth back into focus, the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Montenegro hereby expresses its position on the above issues.
He said that the Arctic is not a "chessboard" for geopolitical competition.
"China is an important actor with legitimate interests in Arctic issues. As a signatory to the Svalbard Treaty, China has consistently conducted its activities in the Arctic in accordance with international law, focusing on climate change, scientific cooperation and environmental protection, and is committed to contributing to peace and sustainable development in the Arctic. The United States' accusations of allegedly 'threatening regional security' are completely groundless and fabricated. Regarding recent US allegations of China's so-called 'military presence' in Greenland, the Government of Denmark and the Government of the Autonomous Territory of Greenland have already officially denied such allegations, clearly stating that there is no evidence of Chinese military facilities or intentions on the island," he said.
He added that they believe that the Arctic should be a broad stage for scientific cooperation, not a "chessboard" of geopolitical competition, and called on the American side to stop spreading disinformation and not to use the so-called "Chinese threat" as an excuse to pursue its own interests.
He also emphasized that true respect is reflected in mutually beneficial cooperation.
"Cooperation is not one-way charity, nor is it hegemonic lecturing from the position of 'the only priority'. China consistently advocates the equal rights of all states regardless of their size, and respects the sovereignty, dignity and independent judgment of the people of Montenegro. The so-called 'caution' from the United States of America essentially represents an underestimation of Montenegro's ability to make independent decisions. Cooperation between China and Montenegro has never been conditioned by any political demands. Relations between China and Montenegro are not directed against a third party and are not influenced by third parties. China does not interfere in the internal affairs of Montenegro, nor does it require Montenegro to choose sides among its partners," said the spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy.
According to him, China and Montenegro cherish a deep and strong friendship.
"Films such as "The Bridge", which depict the heroic stories of partisans from Yugoslavia, were extremely popular in China for a while, and the song "O bela çao" is still very well-known today. The reconstruction of the bridge on Đurđevića Tara, which is financed by the Chinese government, actually reflects the common memory of the people of the two countries of the courageous opposition to fascist aggression. In the past 20 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Montenegro, we have only built "bridges", never "walls". Bilateral cooperation is becoming a tangible and visible path to prosperity. The priority section of the Bar-Boljare highway has so far been crossed by a total of more than 9,6 million vehicles, and the number of passengers has exceeded ten million," he pointed out.
He added that it is "not just an engineering marvel, but also a lifeline that connects the south and north of Montenegro, and activates tourism and logistics."
"Chinese investments in Montenegro are always focused on improving the lives of citizens and the future of the country. The Možura wind farm provides green energy for tens of thousands of households every year. According to Monstat data, the number of Chinese tourists who visited Montenegro in 2025 exceeded 80.000, which represents an increase of over 40 percent compared to the previous year. More and more Montenegrin friends are also traveling to China through the visa-free regime for tourism, studies and business opportunities. China always opens its doors and views Montenegro as an equal partner. Such mutually open cooperation is a fact that no 'threat theory' can hide," he said.
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy stressed that they firmly oppose interference in the internal affairs of other countries.
"China has consistently advocated that the sovereignty and independence of all states should be respected, regardless of the size, power and wealth of that country. China resolutely opposes any form of interference in the internal affairs of other states. The legitimacy of a state leader can only be based on the constitutional procedures of that country and the free choice of its people. Externally imposed 'regime change' and illegal sanctions are never an effective solution, but are a source of humanitarian disasters. International law should be a universally accepted international standard, not a 'sticker' that individual countries use when it suits them and discard when it does not suit them. On the issue of Venezuela, China will continue to call on relevant parties to stop actions that lead to the escalation of the situation and to resolve differences through peaceful dialogue and political means, which is in line with the fundamental interests of the Venezuelan people and contributes to the long-term stability of the region," the Chinese ambassador said.
He added that the improvement of Sino-Montenegrin cooperation is in line with Montenegro's accession process to the European Union (EU).
"Accession to the European Union is Montenegro's independent choice. China respects Montenegro's independent and autonomous development policy, understands and respects Montenegro's strategic goal of joining the EU, and is pleased to see Montenegro, through its own efforts, achieve development and prosperity. A more prosperous and stable Montenegro is in line with the common interests of the international community," he stressed.
As he said, China consistently believes that bilateral cooperation between China and Montenegro and Montenegro's efforts to join the EU are not in contradiction, but rather complement each other.
"The cooperation between China and Montenegro has always been based on mutual respect and the principle of mutual benefit. Major infrastructure projects within the framework of China-Montenegro cooperation not only improve transport conditions in Montenegro, but also enhance Montenegro's connectivity with neighboring countries, which objectively contributes to the achievement of membership standards and regional integration. Economic and trade cooperation with China is the legitimate right of Montenegro as a sovereign state. Montenegro's progress towards EU membership should not be placed in conflict with practical cooperation with China, nor should EU accession be used as an excuse to exclude cooperation with certain partners. In reality, China maintains close economic and trade cooperation with many EU member states. If EU countries can cooperate with China, why should Montenegro, on its path to the EU, not cooperate with China? Such a 'double standard' is not fair to the development of Montenegro," the Chinese ambassador emphasized.
He wished that Sino-Montenegrin relations would be a factor of stability in times of global turmoil.
"In order to respond to the current instability and challenges in the international situation, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the concept of a community with a shared future for our humanity, and then introduced the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative. These initiatives aim to encourage countries to overcome zero-sum games, promote a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable approach to security, and contribute to lasting peace and common development of the region through dialogue, consultation, and international cooperation. China consistently believes that countries should promote multilateralism with an open and inclusive approach, bringing more stability and positive energy to global governance," the Chinese embassy spokesperson said in a statement.
He added that peace and stability in the Western Balkans are in fact essential for the security and development of Europe, as well as for the wider region, and must not become a victim of geopolitical competition.
"Looking to the future of China-Montenegro cooperation, China in its 15th Five-Year Plan further emphasizes innovation in science and technology and high-quality development, especially in artificial intelligence and new productive forces, which represents an important opportunity for enhancing cooperation between China and Montenegro. China is willing to deepen exchanges and cooperation with Montenegro in these areas, through the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, sharing development opportunities, promoting digital transformation and green development, helping Montenegro improve its economic competitiveness and social well-being, and achieving mutually beneficial cooperation," he stressed.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy said that last year marked 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, and that this year marks 20 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Montenegro.
"China wants to seize this opportunity to advance trilateral, even multilateral cooperation between China, the EU and Montenegro, creating synergy for the prosperity of the region. As the Montenegrin proverb says, a true friend is one who lends a hand in need. For Montenegro, China is not here as an adversary, but is always here as a reliable partner. We call on US officials to discard arrogance and prejudice and stop inciting division and opposition. The sovereignty of Montenegro belongs to the people of Montenegro, and the friendly ties of Montenegro should be chosen by its citizens. The relations between China and Montenegro are long-standing and solid, and no unfounded biased statements can shake them. China will continue to work hand in hand with Montenegro to safeguard international justice and fairness, and jointly build a future of cooperation based on mutual benefit," concluded the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Montenegro.
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