塞尔维亚副议长维罗留布·阿尔西齐在开幕式中致辞

Esteemed ladies and gentlemen,
Allow me first of all to extend my gratitude to our host for organising the Forum which provides one more opportunity for exchanging relevant views between sixteen Central and Eastern European countries and China on strengthening of cooperation in various fields. I strongly believe that today’s exchange of views will contribute to initializing new ideas whose implementation will provide further impetus to the development of stability, international cooperation, and thus to the economic progress.
It was a great pleasure for us in Serbia to host the Third Summit of China and Central and Eastern European countries that additionally enhanced the relations between China and the participating states and enriched relations between China and Europe. The summit was held under the slogan “New driving force. New platform. New engine.”, and really this event provided our cooperation with a new strength by reaching an agreement to establish a Business Council of China and 16 Central and Eastern European countries, and many other important agreements were also concluded. Allow me to particularly mention the project for the construction of a new block of the thermoelectric power plant Kostolac B because I come from this part of Serbia and I know how important it is for the economy and citizens not only of this part of the country, but for the whole of Serbia in general. Moreover, a principle agreement on the construction of a high-speed rail line between Budapest and Belgrade was reached, which, along with the Piraeus port, could be an express land-sea route between China and Europe .
Ladies and gentlemen,
Full membership with the European Union is the key foreign policy priority of the Republic of Serbia and a vision of a common European future is shared by all Eastern European countries. Serbia has been implementing fast reforms in order to achieve highest European standards in all fields and thus meet the EU membership criteria.
Some of the measures that we are currently implementing with an aim of increasing production volume and attracting foreign investments are fiscal consolidation, incentives for creating new jobs, ensuring equal treatment for small and large traders, introducing simpler procedures and regulations, and more efficient inspections and customs checks.
We are continuously improving the business environment for foreign investors. The Serbian Government attaches particular importance to free zones as one of the ways for attracting foreign direct investments.
In Serbia we honestly and strongly believe that connecting the Central and Eastern European countries with China cannot divide Europe as some might malevolently claim, but quite the opposite, we believe that it would enhance the cooperation between China and the entire European Union because it is in their mutual interest. Large infrastructural projects will boost regional cooperation, and accelerate the accession process for those countries that are still not EU Member States.
It is a common interest of our region to conduct successful reforms aiming at establishing efficient economic systems that would enable improvement of the standard of living and and in the general quality of life. This of course is not possible without infrastructural connections made at regional level. For this reason, we should use enhanced regional and international connections in order to reform our economies, create more jobs, increase standard of living and give our citizens hope that future is something they may look forward to. I believe that this is exactly the task of future young leaders.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In my opinion, the China’s initiative “One Belt, One Road” is a bold vision. It is well known that ever since the 70s, the process of globalisation and strengthening of interdependancy among key actors in different levels of authority has been prevailing. This means that many challenges and problems faced by a country far surpass its national borders. In such circumstances, the 21st century leadership should involve the continuation and preservation of everything that was good in previous times, only free from bad and painful historical experience. When someone is deemed to be a leader, it means that he/she is visionary, forward-looking, with fresh ideas and solutions, and boosted by the trust the citizens have in him/her. Furthermore, the leader is the person who is recognised as such by other leaders. This is how the leadership gets a double confirmation (from the outside, when a leader is recognised by key international stakeholders, and from the inside, when recognised by his/her own citizens, because only an individual who trusts the public institutions will reward a leader with loyalty even in times of crises.)
What is typical for the modern leadership is not mutual competition, but being able to lead and guide every individual and the whole nation into a more prosperous life and coexistence. The Initiative is a prerogative and a  means necessary for becoming a leader in the 21st century. On one hand, leadership and legitimate initiative taking is measured by general well-being, stability and the promotion of common values, but first and foremost by setting the examples. Leader is the one who inspires and encourages others by his own actions and best examples.
Central and Eastern European region has a strong and encouraging perspective which is illustrated by a higher level of the economic growth than in other countries of Europe. Our Chinese friends have recognised it and I believe that we will all seize this opportunity and promote cooperation in the mutual interest.
Thank you very much for your attention.