Interview: China's unprecedented success benefits world: Montenegrin president

Milo Djukanovic, president of Montenegro, receives an interview with Chinese media in Podgorica, Montenegro, Sept. 16, 2019. (Photo by Nemanja Cabric/Xinhua)

PODGORICA, Sept. 24 -- China's historically significant development has not only contributed to the wellbeing of the Chinese people, but benefited countries around the world, Milo Djukanovic, president of Montenegro, has said.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Djukanovic said China's success over the past decades is the result of the implementation of a well-founded vision, which has now become a motor of global development.

Through its global and regional cooperation such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and cooperation between China and Central and East Europe (CEE), China is sharing benefits and development opportunities with other countries, according to the president.

FRUITS OF REFORM AND OPENING-UP

China achieved rapid economic growth and lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty in the past decades, Djukanovic said.

"I believe the essence of the Chinese success is reform and opening-up, as well as its integration into the global economy. This is why I think that this kind of China's development is well-founded," he said, adding that "it will continue to produce benefits in the future development of China."

According to the president, China's success has turned into a contribution to the overall progress of the whole civilization.

"China has really shown that it has founded its vision of development on reforms and openness, as well as a flawless analysis of the social circumstances in China itself, and it clearly saw its opportunities, possibilities, needs and wishes," he said.

A MOTOR OF GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT

Djukanovic said China is helping countries to accelerate their development by achieving better and more efficient usage of resources, citing the BRI and the China-CEE cooperation as cases in point.

According to Djukanovic, the BRI will help improve infrastructural connections and logistics around the world, leading to increased exchanges and overall progress.

He said Montenegro has seen opportunities for its own development in cooperation with China under the BRI, regarding it as an opportunity to help "harness resources fully, faster and smarter," and improve the standard of living of its people.

A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION

Revealing that he has been to China many times since his first visit in 2003, Djukanovic said China's way to overcome obstacles and achieve fast results for the wellbeing of its citizens was a source of inspiration to him.

"This is something that inspires every person. It inspires me as the person ... who believes that through cooperation with all countries, especially friendly countries such as China, one can obtain many experiences and transfer their benefits here and realize our own strategic goals faster," he said.

Recalling how China has transformed itself from a country founded its growth on heavy industry and energy industry to the one that is building itself into a society of knowledge and a green economy, Djukanovic said that he was encouraged by the country.

"I truly see that in China there are vivid discussions and ready answers to fast-growing challenges that the world has been facing," said the president.