This study visit is a continuation of the ongoing visits of members of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with China to Chinese companies in Serbia, so that the MPs can learn more about the contribution of these companies in Serbia.

Welcoming everyone present, Qu Guoju, General Director of Serbia Zijin Copper (formerly RTV Bor) and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Serbia Zijin Mining, recalled that China and Serbia recently celebrated 70 years of friendship, which has grown from traditional to steel during that period. The friendly countries also marked the anniversary of the signing of the Joint Statement on building the community of Serbia and China with a common future in the new era. He added that the Joint Statement was signed by Presidents Xi Jinping and Aleksandar Vucic in May 2024, during the Chinese President’s visit to Belgrade. 28 important agreements were signed on that occasion, on cooperation in numerous areas, such as transport, energy, agriculture, industrial development. Qu Guoju stressed that these agreements are more than documents - they are a blueprint for the future that we are building together. "Our two companies – Serbia Zijin Copper and Serbia Zijin Mining – are committed to working to advance the comprehensive strategic partnership with Serbia, and have always supported and will continue to support the principles of "green mining" and "mining for a better society". In the context of deepening all-round China-Serbia relations, especially in the field of economic cooperation, the two companies value the established solid relationship and steely friendship and will continue to work closely with the Government of the Republic of Serbia and all of you to jointly contribute to the well-being of the people and the prosperity of society. We will continue to build a partnership, not only for today's, but also for future generations," concluded Qu Guoju in his welcoming speech.

The Head of the Bor Administrative District, Vladimir Stankovic, emphasised that the arrival of Serbia Zijin Copper and Serbia Zijin Mining has brought significant progress in all areas of business and community life in the Bor District. Stankovic particularly emphasised the continued employment of young people, concern for occupational safety and environmental protection, as well as the introduction of modern technologies.

Addressing the attending, Chinese Ambassador to Serbia H.E. Li Ming expressed his great pleasure to be back in Bor, adding that he was honoured to be visiting Zijin, one of the largest mining companies in China and one of the largest international companies in the world, together with the Head and members of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with China. "As Chinese President Xi Jinping said, 'a green mountain and water is like a golden mountain and water.' During today's visit, I think the company is building not only a golden mountain but also a green mountain. Zijin's story is a successful model of cooperation between China and Serbia and our two peoples to build both a golden and a green mountain together." The Ambassador expressed special gratitude to the Head and members of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with China for their willingness to visit Bor and Zijin and for supporting China-Serbia cooperation. He emphasised that so far, the Parliamentary Friendship Group with China, in cooperation with the Chinese Embassy in Serbia, has visited all major investments and companies in Serbia, and that a number of joint activities in Serbia are planned for the coming period.

Thanking the hosts for the warm welcome, the Head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with China and the National Assembly Deputy Speaker Marina Ragus stressed that the arrival of the Zijin company created nine thousand indirect and six thousand direct jobs, that 270 million dollars was invested in environmental protection, and when it comes to workplace injuries, in 2024 the number was reduced by 98% compared to 2018. The Zijin company brought the latest technology to the former RTV Bor, automated the process, rebuilt the facilities, introduced robotics, and today they are at the forefront, and with them so is Serbia, at the European and global level. Ragus agreed with Ambassador H.E. Li Ming that we must talk about these modalities of cooperation. Ragus stressed that after the meeting of the President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic and the President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping in Moscow on 9 May, a new phase in bilateral relations and strategic partnership between China and Serbia was marked, which represents the strengthening of the community for a common future in the new era, as a new stage in the relations of the two countries and steel friendship. Ragus concluded that the signing of a series of agreements, in particular the Free Trade Agreement and the Joint Statement of the Republic of Serbia and the People's Republic of China on deepening and elevating the comprehensive strategic partnership and building the community of Serbia and China with a common future in the new era, today represents a model of cooperation between the two countries, two peoples, two leaders and can be applied as a model of successful cooperation on the entire international scene.

During the two-day visit, the MPs visited Serbia Zijin Copper, where they toured the largest copper mine Veliki Krivelj and its flotation plant, and then the metallurgical complex within the company, namely the smelter and refinery. The tour ended with a visit to the rose garden, located in the central part of the smelter.

In the continuation of the visit, the Parliamentary Friendship Group with China visited Serbia Zijin Mining and on that occasion they visited the copper-gold mine Cukaru Peki, where the final product - copper concentrate - is obtained from the exploitation of ore. During the visit to the first green and youngest Serbian mine, they were introduced to the most modern technologies, high safety and environmental standards in mining. The delegation saw the work of the training centre, coordination centre and flotation plant, water purification plants, as well as the work itself in the mine's underground.