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Sarajevo Business Forum opens with focus on "16+1" cooperation

Xinhua, May 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

The 7th Sarajevo Business Forum opened here on Wednesday featuring cooperation between China and the 16 Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, or "16+1" cooperation.

Bakir Izetbegovic, Chairman of Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), said at the opening ceremony that the region will benefit from cooperation with China.

"China as an economic engine has global importance while Central and Eastern European countries show strong economic development, and the cooperation will benefit all sides involved," he said.

Izetbegovic said BiH is ready to take an active part in China's Belt and Road Initiative and play a greater role in promoting regional connectivity as well as economic and social development.

Denis Zvizdic, chairman of BiH Council of Ministers, meanwhile said "16+1" cooperation is a good platform for mutual benefits and win-win results.

He noted BiH has great potentials for investment, especially in infrastructures, energy and transport sectors.

Vladimir Kavaric, minister of economy of Montenegro, called for closer regional cooperation, especially in developing regional infrastructure network, to draw more foreign investment for the Balkan region.

The two-day event was participated by over 1,000 company representatives and government officials from some 30 countries including BiH, China, Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Turkey, Kuwait, Qatar, India, etc.

China sent a 130-strong delegation to the conference, led by Ning Jizhe, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, China's economy-planning ministry.

The SBF, hosted by Bosnia Bank International (BBI), is one of the largest business events in the region. Endit