China-Serbia Cooperation: News & Dicussions

[proka89]

Cooperation with the Chinese company CETC

Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic received a three-member delegation of the Chinese company CETC (China Electronics Technology Group Corporation) and discussed with Long Bin, the President of the company, the possibilities for joint research and development projects.

The Ministry of Defence is fully open to negotiations and finding appropriate modalities of cooperation in research, development and production of arms and military equipment and is very interested in the potential Chinese investments in our research and production capacities, Djordjevic said and pointed out that the establishment of new joint companies in accordance with the selected areas and concrete projects of cooperation is not excluded.

In this regard, in recent days, the experts from the Department of Material Resources and Military Technical Institute and experts from the CETC company discussed potential projects that should be developed in the forthcoming period.

Minister Djordjevic singled out the field of military-economic and military-technical cooperation as an important segment of the growing economic cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Serbia and stressed that the visit of the President of China Xi Jinping gave a powerful impetus to the further intensification of cooperation between the two friendly countries.

On this occasion, the Agreement on cooperation in the field of defence industry was signed, which, along with the visit of our expert delegation to China, contributed to the creation of conditions for collaboration with CETC and other Chinese companies.

The CETC company was established in 1948, when it designed and made the first Chinese radar to develop after that from a national company into a global industrial giant in the field of electronic technologies.

http://www.mod.gov.rs/sadrzaj.php?id_sadrzaja=9836

Continued development of cooperation with Chinese companies

Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic and Dai Ning, Vice President of Poly Technologies Inc., discussed the development of cooperation in the defence industry.

They talked about enhancing the military-economic and military-technical cooperation through possible investment of the Chinese company in Public Enterprise Yugoimport SDPR and the Serbian defence industry and possibilities for work on joint research and development projects in the field of arms and military equipment (AME).

Minister Djordjevic thanked for the expressed willingness of the Poly Technologies Inc. to invest in Yugoimport SDPR and companies of the Serbian defence industry, which are very important and vital growing segment of the Serbian economy.

The defence minister recalled that Yugoimport SDPR is a public enterprise established by the Government of the Republic of Serbia which manages it, so that the role of the Ministry of Defence is primarily related to attaining the objectives of the defence policy and the economic policy of Serbia in the activities and operations that are within the purview of that public enterprise. In this regard, the Ministry of Defence strongly supports the initiative and effort to devise some form of cooperation through investment of the Poly Technologies Inc. Company in Yugoimport SDPR, where crucial is their common interest and agreement.

At the same time, Djordjevic emphasized that the Ministry of Defence is very much interested in joint projects in research, development and production of AME and that fully open to negotiations and finding modalities of cooperation to the mutual benefit, including possible joint appearance on third markets.

http://www.mod.gov.rs/sadrzaj.php?id_sadrzaja=9843

Strengthening of cooperation with China

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic and Minister of Defence Zoran Djordjevic talked with the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China Li Manchang about the further enhancement of cooperation between the two friendly countries.

During the meeting they highlighted the importance of the initiative of the Government of the Republic of Serbia aimed at strengthening of the relations between the two countries and a high level of understanding and mutual support on a number of issues of vital interest for Serbia and China, as well as cooperation in various international forums. They talked also about the current situation at the international stage, including regional developments, with a focus on security issues and migration flows.

The Ambassador of the People's Republic of China underscored that his country considered Serbia an important partner in the south-western Balkans region, expressing the hope that mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation be additionally bolstered. China appreciates Serbia's principled position on the issue of Tibet and Taiwan, while it upholds a clear and consistent stance on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija, advocating the respect of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Serbia.

Minister Dacic emphasized that Serbia appreciated the People's Republic of China's support of its aspiration to preserve its own territorial integrity and to find a peaceful solution to the problem of Kosovo and Metohija. At the same time, as he stressed, China is one of the most reliable strategic partners of the Republic of Serbia.

Minister Djordjevic flagged up the importance of the Agreement on Defence Industry Cooperation between the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia and the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence of the People's Republic of China. That opened a window of opportunities for finding adequate modalities of cooperation in the research, development and production of arms and military equipment, as well as the path to possible Chinese investments in our research and production capacities. Therefore, the establishment of new joint companies seems highly realistic, all in line with the selected areas and specific cooperation projects.

Both sides agreed that the visit by President Xi Jinping, with 22 signed intergovernmental agreements, gave an additional impetus to the intensification of the overall bilateral cooperation. Therefore, there are special expectations with regard to economic cooperation with China, so they expressed satisfaction with the large infrastructural projects in Serbia, in which the Chinese companies are involved.

http://www.mod.gov.rs/sadrzaj.php?id_sadrzaja=9845

 

[Shotgunner51]

Cooperation with the Chinese company CETC

Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic received a three-member delegation of the Chinese company CETC (China Electronics Technology Group Corporation) and discussed with Long Bin, the President of the company, the possibilities for joint research and development projects.

The Ministry of Defence is fully open to negotiations and finding appropriate modalities of cooperation in research, development and production of arms and military equipment and is very interested in the potential Chinese investments in our research and production capacities, Djordjevic said and pointed out that the establishment of new joint companies in accordance with the selected areas and concrete projects of cooperation is not excluded.

In this regard, in recent days, the experts from the Department of Material Resources and Military Technical Institute and experts from the CETC company discussed potential projects that should be developed in the forthcoming period.

Minister Djordjevic singled out the field of military-economic and military-technical cooperation as an important segment of the growing economic cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Serbia and stressed that the visit of the President of China Xi Jinping gave a powerful impetus to the further intensification of cooperation between the two friendly countries.

On this occasion, the Agreement on cooperation in the field of defence industry was signed, which, along with the visit of our expert delegation to China, contributed to the creation of conditions for collaboration with CETC and other Chinese companies.

The CETC company was established in 1948, when it designed and made the first Chinese radar to develop after that from a national company into a global industrial giant in the field of electronic technologies.

http://www.mod.gov.rs/sadrzaj.php?id_sadrzaja=9836

Continued development of cooperation with Chinese companies

Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic and Dai Ning, Vice President of Poly Technologies Inc., discussed the development of cooperation in the defence industry.

They talked about enhancing the military-economic and military-technical cooperation through possible investment of the Chinese company in Public Enterprise Yugoimport SDPR and the Serbian defence industry and possibilities for work on joint research and development projects in the field of arms and military equipment (AME).

Minister Djordjevic thanked for the expressed willingness of the Poly Technologies Inc. to invest in Yugoimport SDPR and companies of the Serbian defence industry, which are very important and vital growing segment of the Serbian economy.

The defence minister recalled that Yugoimport SDPR is a public enterprise established by the Government of the Republic of Serbia which manages it, so that the role of the Ministry of Defence is primarily related to attaining the objectives of the defence policy and the economic policy of Serbia in the activities and operations that are within the purview of that public enterprise. In this regard, the Ministry of Defence strongly supports the initiative and effort to devise some form of cooperation through investment of the Poly Technologies Inc. Company in Yugoimport SDPR, where crucial is their common interest and agreement.

At the same time, Djordjevic emphasized that the Ministry of Defence is very much interested in joint projects in research, development and production of AME and that fully open to negotiations and finding modalities of cooperation to the mutual benefit, including possible joint appearance on third markets.

http://www.mod.gov.rs/sadrzaj.php?id_sadrzaja=9843

Strengthening of cooperation with China

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic and Minister of Defence Zoran Djordjevic talked with the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China Li Manchang about the further enhancement of cooperation between the two friendly countries.

During the meeting they highlighted the importance of the initiative of the Government of the Republic of Serbia aimed at strengthening of the relations between the two countries and a high level of understanding and mutual support on a number of issues of vital interest for Serbia and China, as well as cooperation in various international forums. They talked also about the current situation at the international stage, including regional developments, with a focus on security issues and migration flows.

The Ambassador of the People's Republic of China underscored that his country considered Serbia an important partner in the south-western Balkans region, expressing the hope that mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation be additionally bolstered. China appreciates Serbia's principled position on the issue of Tibet and Taiwan, while it upholds a clear and consistent stance on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija, advocating the respect of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Serbia.

Minister Dacic emphasized that Serbia appreciated the People's Republic of China's support of its aspiration to preserve its own territorial integrity and to find a peaceful solution to the problem of Kosovo and Metohija. At the same time, as he stressed, China is one of the most reliable strategic partners of the Republic of Serbia.

Minister Djordjevic flagged up the importance of the Agreement on Defence Industry Cooperation between the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia and the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence of the People's Republic of China. That opened a window of opportunities for finding adequate modalities of cooperation in the research, development and production of arms and military equipment, as well as the path to possible Chinese investments in our research and production capacities. Therefore, the establishment of new joint companies seems highly realistic, all in line with the selected areas and specific cooperation projects.

Both sides agreed that the visit by President Xi Jinping, with 22 signed intergovernmental agreements, gave an additional impetus to the intensification of the overall bilateral cooperation. Therefore, there are special expectations with regard to economic cooperation with China, so they expressed satisfaction with the large infrastructural projects in Serbia, in which the Chinese companies are involved.

http://www.mod.gov.rs/sadrzaj.php?id_sadrzaja=9845

China and Serbia are two friendly nations. It's good to see signing of 22 agreements on finance, infrastructure, currency swaps, renewable energy and highway construction, and now defence, good news!

Xi Jinping, China's President, center, applauds during a ceremony in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, June 18, 2016. Xi arrived in Serbia for a visit meant to boost relations with the friendly nation and assert China's intention to increase its presence in the Balkans and Europe. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)

If you have more details on the potential defence projects, please share, thanks!

 

[proka89]

If you have more details on the potential defence projects, please share, thanks!

The last article from the Ministry of defence site is not yet translated, but according to that article four more Chinese defence companies will come to Serbia until the end of September. They are also mentioning plans for joint military exercises, and cooperation between ours military academies. We are also expecting visit from Chinese minister of defense until the end of this year, and visit from chief of staff of your army in the next year.

According to this info Chinese companies are interested in joint development, production, investment in Serbian defense industry, and even founding of new companies with Serbian side.

 

[pher]

Welcome, comrades. There are a lot of people in China having a special favorite feeling toward Yugoslavia and Serbia.

 

[Shotgunner51]

The last article from the Ministry of defence site is not yet translated, but according to that article four more Chinese defence companies will come to Serbia until the end of September. They are also mentioning plans for joint military exercises, and cooperation between ours military academies. We are also expecting visit from Chinese minister of defense until the end of this year, and visit from chief of staff of your army in the next year.

According to this info Chinese companies are interested in joint development, production, investment in Serbian defense industry, and even founding of new companies with Serbian side.

Excellent, good to hear that more companies are coming to Serbia after CETC, as well as defence chiefs, the more dialogue the better. Many opportunities in defence industry, for Serbia own armed forces, regional markets and maybe more. All the best my friend!

About Serbia armed forces, what are the primary challenges? Or say threats?

 

[proka89]

About Serbia armed forces, what are the primary challenges? Or say threats?

Largest challenges for Serbian army are problems with aging equipment and weaponry, and a lack of funds to modernize armed forces. Also i believe that Serbian army is too small to actually respond to possible problems (Some 25 000 soldiers, non commissioned officers and officers). Also a large problem is that pay rate for a professional soldiers is too small, and because of that every year significant number of soldiers, non commissioned officers and officers are leaving the armed forces. That is a large problem, because it's not easy or cheap to replace people that you previously spent years to train.

Largest threats for Serbia at this time are threats from islamic terrorism. A lot of people from this region went to Syria to fight alongside ISIS, especially from Kosovo and Bosnia. Problem is what will happen when those people return to this region. Bosnia is not a stable state. Albanians have aspirations for parts of Serbia (not just Kosovo), Macedonia, Montenegro and Greece. There are also always some tensions with Croatia, which just like Serbia is interested in situation in Bosnia. I don't believe in possibility of full scale war here, but some small scale conflicts, terrorists attacks.... are possible.

 

[Shotgunner51]

Largest challenges for Serbian army are problems with aging equipment and weaponry, and a lack of funds to modernize armed forces. Also i believe that Serbian army is too small to actually respond to possible problems (Some 25 000 soldiers, non commissioned officers and officers). Also a large problem is that pay rate for a professional soldiers is too small, and because of that every year significant number of soldiers, non commissioned officers and officers are leaving the armed forces. That is a large problem, because it's not easy or cheap to replace people that you previously spent years to train.

Largest threats for Serbia at this time are threats from islamic terrorism. A lot of people from this region went to Syria to fight alongside ISIS, especially from Kosovo and Bosnia. Problem is what will happen when those people return to this region. Bosnia is not a stable state. Albanians have aspirations for parts of Serbia (not just Kosovo), Macedonia, Montenegro and Greece. There are also always some tensions with Croatia, which just like Serbia is interested in situation in Bosnia. I don't believe in possibility of full scale war here, but some small scale conflicts, terrorists attacks.... are possible.

Thanks for the elaboration, very informative, good read!

I think if there is no imminent full scale war with regulars of neigboring states, an army of 25 thousand men or even less isn't too small, diplomacy is more cost effective in this arena. Threats are only terrorist insurgency and low-intensity border conflicts, there is no need to overspend hard earned money to go for scale, if Serbia allocates say a healthy 2% of current GDP, that should get a modernized light infantry, plus renewal of some tanks, aircrafts, air defence systems.

Anyway look forward to deeper defence co-operation between our countries, all the best my friend!

 

[proka89]

Delegation of Chinese Health Service on a Visit to Serbia

Today, at the Military Medical Academy, State Secretary Nenad Neric met with Major General Li Jing Ji, the Chief of the Military Health Department of the Central Military Commission of the People's Liberation Army of China, who leads a six-member Chinese delegation visiting the Serbian Ministry of Defence.

Neric thanked General Jing Ji for the visit of his delegation to Serbia and that they will have the opportunity to work on enhancement of the bilateral military cooperation in the field of health care at the time when the two countries develop their overall political and economic relations.

State Secretary Neric said that the Chinese side donated to the Ministry of Defence significant resources in various forms of equipment, and that a large part of the donations went to the health service, such as 20 ambulances for the needs of the Serbian Armed Forces. Neric pointed out that during this visit they will define areas of common interest for further cooperation and future directions of its development.

Colonel Ugljesa Jovicic, Acting Chief of the Military Health Department, presented the organization and structure of the Military Health Department, and Colonel Prof. Dr Dragan Dincic, Acting Head of the Military Medical Academy, with his associates outlined in detail the work of the Military Medical Academy in various fields: education and training, scientific research and the MMA Medical Faculty, war surgery at MMA, experience of medical teams from their participation in peacekeeping operations, the work of the National Poison Control Centre, as well as experience of VMA doctors in the application of traditional medicine.

General Jing Ji thanked for having the opportunity to get acquainted with the health service system and the work of the Military Medical Academy. He conveyed that the Chinese side is very much interested to talk in more details about the possibilities of exchange of personnel and cooperation in education and training, exchange of experience in multinational operations and possible joint participation, as well as the exchange of knowledge in the field of war surgery and burns. He particularly emphasized that he was glad that the MMA had a long tradition of applying traditional medicine and announced assistance of the Chinese side in its further advancement.

The Chinese delegation visited the MMA facilities, and it has been scheduled for tomorrow to visit the Military Medical Centre in Novi Sad.

http://www.mod.gov.rs/sadrzaj.php?id_sadrzaja=9875

Intensifying cooperation with Chinese companies

Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic received the delegation of the Chinese CPMIEC company led by Mrs Teng Chunhui, Vice President of the company.

Djordjevic and Chunhui discussed further enhancement and streamlining of cooperation, primarily the military-economic and scientific-technical cooperation.

Serbia and China have signed an Agreement on Defence Cooperation and an Agreement on Cooperation between the Defence Industries, which is the basis for the further development of friendly relations between the two countries, Minister of Defence said at the meeting.

The officials agreed that the two countries are committed to the continuation and intensification of military-economic and military-technical cooperation. These areas make up a significant segment of the growing economic cooperation between Serbia and China, Djordjevic said, and the recent visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Serbia has given a strong impetus to further intensification of the cooperation.

During the visit to our country, the business delegation from China visited the Military Technical Institute and the Serbian defence industries and met with research and development capacities of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces.

http://www.mod.gov.rs/sadrzaj.php?id_sadrzaja=9895

Continued cooperation with companies from the People's Republic of China

Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic met with the delegation of Chinese company ALIT (Aerospace Long March International Trade), led by Vice President Mr Su Jinxin.

The officials confirmed a commitment to continue military-technical cooperation, which would be concretized in the forthcoming period in the form of joint projects for the development of arms and military equipment. Minister Djordjevic also attended the signing of the Protocol on the realized visit, which was signed by Mr Nenad Miloradovic, PhD, acting Assistant Minister for Material Resources, and Mr Su Jinxin, Vice President of the company.

The visit of the Chinese company is a continuation of military-technical cooperation between the two countries, which has intensified after the signing of the Agreement on cooperation of defence industries of the Republic of Serbia and the People’s Republic of China.

The delegation of the Chinese company had the opportunity, through discussions and a tour of the Military Technical Institute and the Serbian defence industries, to be introduced into the research, development and production capacities of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces.

http://www.mod.gov.rs/sadrzaj.php?id_sadrzaja=9910


And today we were visited by delgation from CASIC (China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation) led by company chairmen Gao Hongwei.

 

[proka89]

"Poly Group" interested in projects in defence industry

Belgrade/Davos, 18 Jan 2017 – Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic met today in Davos with Director of "Poly Group", with whom he discussed joint projects in the production of arms and military equipment.

Vucic said that the mentioned company is an important partner of Serbia, and that it is necessary to continue talks on joint research and development projects and modernisation of existing ones.

Representatives of the company have expressed interest in forming a joint venture company in Serbia with JP Jugoimport SDPR, with a view to joint development and production of anti-terrorist equipment, devices for night reconnaissance and missile systems.

http://www.srbija.gov.rs/vesti/vest.php?id=120382

 

[Shotgunner51]

"Poly Group" interested in projects in defence industry

Belgrade/Davos, 18 Jan 2017 – Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic met today in Davos with Director of "Poly Group", with whom he discussed joint projects in the production of arms and military equipment.

Vucic said that the mentioned company is an important partner of Serbia, and that it is necessary to continue talks on joint research and development projects and modernisation of existing ones.

Representatives of the company have expressed interest in forming a joint venture company in Serbia with JP Jugoimport SDPR, with a view to joint development and production of anti-terrorist equipment, devices for night reconnaissance and missile systems.

http://www.srbija.gov.rs/vesti/vest.php?id=120382

That's a very good sign, I found this source. Rather different from other pure-play firms in defence industry, Poly Group keeps a low-profile in its primary business, it's a defacto PLA-run enterprise.

China's Poly Group shows interest in producing military equipment in Serbia - govt

Source: Serbian Government

BELGRADE (Serbia), January 19 (SeeNews) - China's Poly Group Corporation has expressed interest in manufacturing military equipment in Serbia, the government in Belgrade said.

Poly Group representatives have shown interest in setting up a joint venture with Serbian state-owned weapons trading company JP Jugoimport SDPR to develop and produce anti-terrorist equipment, night vision devices and missile systems, the Serbian government said in a statement on Wednesday.

Serbian prime minister Aleksandar Vucic met the president of Poly Group, Xu Niansha, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, the government added.

Poly Group is an important partner of Serbia, and it is necessary to continue talks on joint research and development projects, Vucic noted, according to the statement.

The Chinese company is one of the central enterprises under the supervision and management of the country's State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC). Headquartered in Beijing, Poly Group has more than 600 subsidiaries and some 60,000 employees. Four of those subsidiaries are listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, namely Poly Real Estate, Poly Property Group, Poly Culture Group, and Guizhou Jiulian Industrial Explosive Materials Development.

https://seenews.com/news/chinas-pol...nt-in-serbia-govt-554776#sthash.7wPalZBK.dpuf​

 

[TaiShang]

This is not related to defense, but significant in showing the comprehensive nature of China-Serbia partnership.

***

China, Serbia sign MOU on agriculture
Xinhua | Updated: 2017-01-18

BELGRADE - China and Serbia on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in agriculture.

The MoU was signed in the Serbian capital Belgrade by visiting Chinese Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu and his Serbian counterpart Branislav Nedimovic.

China and Serbia will enhance cooperation in agricultural investment and technological development, especially in the areas of meat processing and vegetable and fruit processing, Han told reporters after the signing.

"Regarding trade of agricultural products, we welcome the imports of safe and quality products from Serbia, which not only gives Chinese customers more choices, but also benefits Serbian farmers," he said.

The MoU serves as the starting point of bilateral cooperation in agriculture, Han said, while urging the two sides to enhance cooperation within the Belt and Road Initiative and the "16+1" cooperation mechanism.

The "16+1" refers to China and the 16 Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries.

Nedimovic said the MoU was set to bring Chinese investment into Serbia and such cooperation was vital to the country's food processing industry.

***

@proka89 , will be looking forward to reading more updates on the defense front, my friend.

 

[proka89]

This is not related to defense, but significant in showing the comprehensive nature of China-Serbia partnership.

Its not only that, Serbia and China have a great partnership, especially since 2014.

In 2014:
Serbia and China sign 13 agreements and memorandums
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/business.php?yyyy=2014&mm=12&dd=18&nav_id=92609

Jun 2016:
China's Xi highlights Serbia trade as Beijing signs 22 deals
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-serbia-china-idUSKCN0Z40C6

November 2016:
Serbia and China scrap visas, sign other contracts in Riga
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2016&mm=11&dd=07&nav_id=99612

China backs Serbian railway modernisation
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/...hina-backs-serbian-railway-modernisation.html

Just some examples.

 

[帅的一匹]

Serbia is a hero country, I think China should invest heavily in it. We never forget how they fight back USA bully in year 1998. 3 Chinese Jounalists sacrificed there when USA bombed Chinese ambassy, we will remember that forever.

 

[TaiShang]

Serbia is a hero country, I think China should invest heavily in it. We never forget how they fight back USA bully in year 1998. 3 Chinese Jounalists sacrificed there when USA bombed Chinese ambassy, we will remember that forever.

China has never recognized Kosovo's status as an independent entity. In 2008, it strongly opposed to Kosovo's declaration of independence. For China, it is a non-state entity.

 

[proka89]

Not defence related, but still interesting:

Bank of China launches operations in Serbia

The bank announced earlier that Serbia will be first Balkan country to host what is the world’s fifth largest bank by total assets.

http://www.b92.net/eng/news/business.php?yyyy=2017&mm=01&dd=23&nav_id=100302

AERO: Serbia and China negotiate future flights

The Serbian Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vucic, has held direct talks with a Chinese carrier interested in launching services between Beijing and Belgrade.

The high-level talks took place during last week’s World Economic Forum in Davos. At a press conference yesterday, Vucic said, “We are not far away from the launch of direct flights”. While the Prime Minister did not reveal which company he held talks with, representatives from HNA Aviation, a conglomerate which runs multiple Chinese carriers, were present at the Forum. Some of the companies it owns include Hainan Airlines and Beijing Capital Airlines, among others. Vucic noted that the start of direct flights between the two countries is of high priority after Serbia and China abolished visa restrictions for each other nationals on January 1st. Serbia became only the second European country after the micro state of San Marino to grant Chinese citizens visa-free entry.

https://wisebroker.rs/aero-serbia-and-china-negotiate-future-flights/

Chinese CMEC starts expansion works at Serbia's Drmno coal mine

China Engineering Machinery Corporation (CMEC) on Monday began assembling modern mining equipment at a mine here in order to increase its production for the Electric Power Industry of Serbia (EPS) in a project worth 123 million U.S. dollars.

　　Serbian state officials and those from the Chinese embassy met at the Drmno mine, where representatives of EPS and CMEC signed a decision to begin works on installing equipment.

　　Serbian energy and mining minister Aleksandar Antic said at the signing ceremony that the beginning of the installation of the ECS (Excavator-Conveyor-Spreader) system would provide an additional three million tonnes of coal per year for the functioning of the new block unit at the Kostolac power plant, also being constructed by CMEC.

　　"By 2020, Serbia will get its first new block-unit energy facility that has the capacity of 350 megawatts, which will significantly influence our energetic security. The first precondition for us to use the new block unit is to have enough coal here in Drmno, and for this we need a modern ECS system that will increase the production of coal," Antic explained.

http://www.china-ceec.org/eng/sbhz_1/t1433299.htm

It looks like China sees Serbia as a realy important partner in this part of the world.