BRI project bolsters joint development

China's Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina has hailed the Brcko-Bijeljina expressway as a landmark project under the Belt and Road Initiative, calling it a path of friendship that will deepen people-to-people exchanges and drive joint development.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in Bijeljina on June 12, Ambassador Li Fan said the project marks a vital achievement in infrastructure connectivity under the China-CEEC (Central and Eastern European Countries) Cooperation framework.

The expressway, being built by State builder China Railway No 4 Engineering Group (CREC4), will span approximately 17.75 kilometers, featuring a two-way carriageway with an emergency lane in each direction and a designed speed of 130 km per hour.

Savo Minic, prime minister of Republika Srpska, described the highway as a crucial link in the expressway network connecting Banja Luka, capital of Republika Srpska, with Belgrade, capital of Serbia, underscoring its significant importance in enhancing regional connectivity and economic development.

"As this expressway and other key infrastructure projects move forward, the economic potential of Republika Srpska will be further unleashed," he said.

Fang Yafeng, a CREC4 staffer, noted that upon completion, the expressway will intersect vertically with the Pan-European 5C high-speed corridor, further strengthening connectivity in the Balkans under the BRI framework.

Chinese Counselor Gai Guoqiang also attended the groundbreaking ceremony.

Please contact the writer at hanjingyan@chinadaily.com.cn