Name: Batic Bacevic (Deputy Editor-in-chief, Politika Daily, Serbia)

Title: China-SerbiaMedia Cooperation Under the Belt and Road Initiative

Abstract

Both the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road have been placed on firm foundations and it is now up to media to promote its noble agenda. What is still lacking worldwide is full awareness of the commitment and resources that the Chinese leadership has invested in the Belt and Road Initiative. At a time of sluggish economic growth, China has created a unique opportunity for dozens of countries.

It is now crucial that both the Serbian public and all relevant stakeholders become familiar with developmental and growth opportunities that the One Belt, One Road Initiative opens. This will require a concentrated and aggressive media effort that will clearly lay out the many opportunities and tangible benefits for our citizens and make them fully aware of this multidimensional global initiative and new win-win cooperation between China and Serbia.

Serbia’s economy badly needs a reliable investment anchor and a firm strategic path that can be secured through cohesive cooperation in this transcontinental Chinese-

led initiative. Some marked results have already been achieved within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative—from the magnificent Mihajlo Pupin Bridge over the Danube River in Belgrade, which the wider Serbian public still calls simply “The China bridge”, to Smederevo’s Steel Mill. During President Xi’s June visit to Serbia officials and businesses from the two countries signed 22 new agreements.

Serbia is eager to seize the opportunity presented by China. By boosting bilateral economic cooperation, the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative promises swift expansion and intensification of ties and will give Serbia a chance to expand and modernize its infrastructure and speed up development.

On his second trip to Eastern Europe, President Xi gave Serbia the opportunity to fully integrate into China’s Belt and Road Initiative and honored it with the opportunity to become one of China’s gateways to Europe.

In Serbia, we would appreciate and welcome a more pronounced Chinese media presence.

If China is to leave a larger footprint in countries such as Serbia, I would suggest that our Chinese colleagues study these highly succesfull models of engaging foreign populations in idea and cultural exchanges. There would be no obstacle to surmount in Serbia, as our people are already open-minded and friendly to China and see it as a welcome interlocutor and highly valuable and desirable participant in world affairs. My newspaper’s website get a lot more visits and hits when its front page runs an article about how quickly China is playing catch-up with the world’s hyperpower. And now it is gone beyond the stage of catch-up and China is being considered not only an economic powerhouse on all continents but also an admired innovator in high tehcnology. China is admired in Serbia, Serbs welcome all news items about China’s successes and are rooting for China to press ahead in the global business and political environment. The Serbian public, in fact, cannot get enough of stories about China’s advances. This could be fertile ground for more involvement.

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