Chinese workers are employed on biggest projects in Serbia - how to proceed in light of coronavirus?

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Construction Minister Zorana Mihajlovic has announced assistance to Chinese companies engaged in major projects in Serbia because of the difficulties they are facing in China due to the coronavirus epidemic.

"We agreed to help wherever we can, both through the assistance offered by Serbian companies, but also as the government of Serbia," Mihajlovic said after meeting with Chinese Ambassador Chen Bo and representatives of Chinese companies operating in Serbia.

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Ambassador Chen said the situation with the coronavirus epidemic is stabilizing, but that it affected not only the Chinese and the global economy but also the dynamics of major joint projects in Serbia due to the lack of workers and engineers from China, but also the disrupted delivery of equipment and materials from China.

"The friendship between Serbia and China is made of steel. Just as China has always been with Serbia in the nice and the less nice moments, so Serbia is always with China and in the nice and the less nice moments, and now when China is fighting this virus," said Minister Mihajlovic.

She told reporters that she spoke with Ambassador Chen about the ways Chinese companies are solving the problems they are facing.

"Chinese workers are very important to us because they are working on the largest infrastructure projects," said Mihajlovic, and recalled that they are now building the high-speed railway, a section of the Preljina-Pozega highway, and other projects.

She noted that these are all projects that contribute to Serbia's accelerated economic development.

"We have full understanding for all the problems the Chinese companies have and the situation," Mihajlovic said, adding that Serbia wishes to China to overcome the epidemic.

Chen said the Chinese economy is very open, but that the impact of the epidemic on the Chinese and the global economy is temporary and phased, and that the IMF and other countries assess the situation similarly.

"The situation with the epidemic is stabilizing these days and the number of patients is declining. In areas where the epidemic was relatively mild, economic activity is starting to resume. I am convinced that after the epidemic, the Chinese economy will recover and that cooperation with Serbia will return to normal," said Chen Bo.

She thanked Deputy Prime Minister Mihajlovic and the government of Serbia for their willingness to help and support Chinese companies. As she said, Chinese companies have already taken all measures to reduce the negative impact of the epidemic on their business.

Chen is convinced that Chinese companies will minimize the impact of the epidemic on joint projects.

"I am convinced that after the epidemic we will have even more opportunities for our cooperation," said the Chinese ambassador.

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(Telegraf Biznis)