On April 10, a Business Forum “Agricultural Investment and Equipment Cooperation 16+1” was held in Mostar. Ambassador Chen Bo, special representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China for 16+1 cooperation Ambassador Huo Yuzhen and Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Mato Franjičević attended the event.
Chen Bo stated in her address that the construction of the “Belt and Road” has ensured an inexhaustible motivation for further development of the 16+1 cooperation. Agricultural cooperation can become a new highlight and growth point. China has advantages of agricultural equipment, technology and capital. Chinese agricultural enterprises express growing desire and capability for overseas cooperation. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe enjoy favorable geographic and natural conditions. They need foreign investments, equipment and technological support, in order to improve competitiveness of agricultural products. Cooperation of the two sides shows exceptional complementarity and different forms of cooperation, such as transnational mergers and acquisitions, as well as joint construction of agricultural zones, can be considered.
Chen Bo stressed that the Chinese side consistently adheres to the concept of international cooperation on the basis of mutual interests and win-win resultus and is strongly committed to improving liberalization and facilitating trade and investment. The Chinese side is ready to work together with all the countries of the world, including the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, to protect the multilateral trade system so that economic globalization moves towards greater openness, tolerance, universal interests, balancing and win-win results.
The Business Forum discussed the general state and prospects for trade in agricultural products between China and Central and Eastern European countries, the CEEC’s need for agricultural equipment and investments, the cooperation of individual countries in agricultural investments, the perspective of agricultural investments in the CEEC, Chinese agricultural equipment and machinery, etc.
