On April 3, 2025, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Li Fan published a signed article titled “Chinese-BiH relations are facing new opportunities” on the local mainstream newspapers—Dnevni Avaz, Glas Srpske, and Večernji List.
Ambassador Li highlighted the exchange of congratulatory messages between President Xi Jinping and the BiH leadership, which provided strategic guidance for the future of bilateral relations. She reviewed the fruitful results in economic cooperation between the two countries over the past 30 years in political, economic, cultural, and other fields, and looked ahead to the promising prospects for future development. The full text is as follows：
The year of 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Over the past three decades, under the strategic guidance of the leaders between two countries, China-BiH relations have maintained a healthy and stable development, with fruitful results in economic cooperation.This partnership has set an example of friendly coexistence and joint development between nations of different sizes, histories, cultures, and social systems.
The past three decades have witnessed our two nations ever-growing political mutual trust. At this important moment marking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties, Chinese president Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the BiH leader, emphasizing that both sides have developed bilateral relations based on the principles of equality, mutual respect, and win-win cooperation. China is willing to move forward traditional friendship, deepen mutual cooperation, elevating China-BiH relations to new heights, which will benefit the peoples of two countries. The leader of Bosnia and Herzegovina noted that the strength of bilateral ties is reflected in the depth of our political dialogue, the dynamism of our economic collaboration, the richness of our cultural exchange, and the vitality of people-to-people contacts. Our two country’s foreign ministers also exchanged congratulatory messages, stressing their commitment to implementing the consensus reached by the heads of state, enhancing communication and coordination between the foreign ministries, and advancing the friendly and cooperation relations between China and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
China-BiH relations, based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, carry even greater significance in today's turbulent world. The two sides have always respected each other's political systems and development paths, offering mutual support on issues concerning their core interests. China respects Bosnia and Herzegovina's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, adhering to the principle of treating all countries as equals regardless of their size. Bosnia and Herzegovina firmly upholds the One-China principle and supports China’s position on issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang, human rights and other issues. The two sides maintain close communication and cooperation on international and regional affairs.
China and Bosnia and Herzegovina joint response to challenges, supporting each other in difficult times. After the earthquake in Xizang this year, the leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina extended condolences. During Bosnia and Herzegovina’s suffering with epidemics and severe floods, China actively mobilized resources and provided assistance. China has also organized training programs in fields such as healthcare, agriculture, and technology, strengthening cooperation in scientific and technological innovation.
The past three decades have witnessed our two nations moving forward together with significant achievements. Bosnia and Herzegovina is China's important partner in the Western Balkans, and China stands as Bosnia and Herzegovina's largest trading partner in Asia. In 2024, bilateral trade has increased by 15.2%.In recent years, with the deepening of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries, projects such as the "Dabar" hydroelectric power plant and the Banja Luka-Prijedor highway are processing successfully. Significant projects, such as the "Ivovik" wind power plant, the "Sveti Luka" hospital in Doboj, the reconstruction of the tramway track in Sarajevo, the "Hercegovina" bridge on the Corridor Vc highway, as well as the Počitelj-Zvirovići section on the same pan-European corridor that connects BiH to the European Union, have been successfully completed , bringing real benefits to the BiH citizens.
The "Ivovik" wind power plant, with an installed power of 84 MW, produces 259 million KWh of electricity annually, which reduces CO2 emissions by about 240 thousand tons per year. The mayor of Livno, Darko Čondrić, pointed out that the wind power plant is not only in line with the European energy policy, but also directly created over hundreds of jobs, encountering a warm welcome from the locals.
The "Sveti Luka" hospital in Doboj, with 468 beds, now has more complete medical functions and better organized wards. Local residents don’t need to go far away for treatment, which provide great convenience to the residents of the Doboj region.
The past three decades have witnessed flourishing people-to-people exchanges and growing mutual understanding between our two nations. In the 1970s, “Walter Defends Sarajevo” had been a sensation in China, which became a cherished memory of the two country peoples joint fight against fascist aggression. Exchanges between universities, academic institutions, and social organizations have become increasingly frequent. More and more Chinese tourists can be seen in the streets of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the number of Chinese visitors reaching approximately 75,000 in 2024, an increase of 145% compared to previous year. The enthusiasm for learning Chinese continues to grow among BiH youth, and many students from the Sinology departments of the University of Banja Luka and the University of East Sarajevo choose to study in China. Tianjin city and Sarajevo city are sister cities , symbolic gifts - the "Friendship Pavilion" and the "Sebilj" - have become lasting symbols of friendship between the two cities. "Chinese culture, history and cuisine fascinate me immensely. Learning Chinese was the best decision I've ever made." said Smajić with excitement, who was the winner of the second prize in the 2024 "Chinese Bridge" competition for Bosnian university students.
The past three decades have witnessed mutual respect and adherence to the developments paths that suit our national conditions. The National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) have successfully concluded, which releasing a series of important data: China has set key targets such as a GDP growth of around 5%, creating over 12 million new urban jobs, and the consumer price index increase at about 2%. China will continue to comprehensively promote Chinese-style modernization through high-quality development and high-level opening-up. Bosnia and Herzegovina is committed to joining the European Union (EU), and China supports BiH's EU accession. China respects the BiH people's independent choice regarding their national future and is willing to develop equal relations with its three constituent peoples of BiH. China always hopes that the various ethnic groups in BiH engage in inclusive dialogue, achieve peaceful coexistence, and promote economic and social development.
There is a proverb in Bosnia and Herzegovina that says: "Friendship is like wine, the older, the better." China is willing to work together with Bosnia and Herzegovina to carry forward the past and open up new chapters, steadily advancing exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in political, economic, trade, cultural, and other fields. We aim to sow more seeds of friendship, build more platforms for cooperation, and promote the continuous upgrading of bilateral relations.