by Nemanja Cabric, Wang Huijuan
BELGRADE, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Over the past 96 years, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has turned the country into a model of development for the whole world, Zarko Obradovic, vice president of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), told Xinhua in a recent interview.
The CPC's history boasts a series of fantastic achievements and after 96 years, the party has become a global leader, said Obradovic, who served as education minister and Serbia's first coordinator for cooperation within the 16+1 mechanism, a platform created by China and 16 Central and Eastern European countries in 2012.
STRONG LEADERSHIP
Under the leadership of the CPC in the past 96 years, China, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has become an economic power and also a global leader, Obradovic said.
"The new era is absolutely connected to Chinese President Xi Jinping," he said.
Xi has left a profound mark on the global stage by proposing the Belt and Road Initiative, which intensifies cooperation between the countries of Eurasia on the basis of respecting international laws, maintaining peace and stability and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, he said, adding that "he made China strong."
The CPC is not only a ruling party in China, but also has broad influence across the world, Obradovic said.
He said he expects the CPC will continue to promote the livelihood of the Chinese people and secure a steady development.
CHINA-SERBIA COOPERATION
The CPC and SPS established relationships in the 1990s when the SPS was the ruling party.
As part of the current ruling coalition of the Serbian government, Obradovic said, the SPS will continue to promote cooperation with the CPC like the two parties did in the past.
It is important for the two parties, as well as the two countries, to enhance cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the 16+1 mechanism, he added.
"China can share its experience about its achievements, such as advancing people's livelihood and accelerating economic growth," he said.
The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi opens a door for the world, he said, adding that the initiative is not just a project for China, but for the whole world.
"The fascinating thing about the Belt and Road Initiative is that it was brought up at a time of peace and is supposed to benefit everyone and bring development opportunities for all parties involved," Obradovic said.
The CPC's history demonstrates that "we always need to find a new idea, a new project, and a new concept for the time ahead," he said.
