Institute of International Politics and Economics and Argentine Council for International Relations organised an online round table entitled “Serbian and Argentinian Experiences in Cooperation with China within the BRI”. The round table was held under the auspices of a new format – “Discussions, Narratives, Analyses” (DNA), within the project “Contributing to Modern Partnerships: Assessments of Sino-EU-Serbian Relations” (COMPASS), financed by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia.

Dr. Ivona Lađevac, Deputy Director of the Institute of International Politics and Economics (IIPE), and Dr. Carola Ramón, Vice President of the Argentine Council for International Relations (CARI), addressed the audience at the beginning of the meeting.

The speakers at this round table were research fellows from the Regional Centre “Belt and Road” of the IIPE and members of the Working Group on China within the CARI. Dr. Nenad Stekić spoke about the political and security dimensions of the “ironclad relationship” between the Republic of Serbia and the People’s Republic of China, while Dr. Katarina Zakić presented on the topic of Sino-Serbian economic cooperation. Patricio Giusto focused in his presentation on Argentina’s relationship with the People’s Republic of China since the new Argentine President Javier Milei assumed the office. Diego Martin Cagliolo spoke about the economic and cultural aspects of Sino-Argentine cooperation within the Belt and Road Initiative.

Questions from the audience raised during the discussion concerned the Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the People’s Republic of China, the environmental aspects of Chinese investments in Serbia and Argentina, the perception of public opinion in both countries when it comes to the strengthening of the Chinese presence, and China’s cooperation with the countries of the Central and Eastern Europe.

The round table was moderated by Dr. Aleksandar Mitić, IIPE Research Fellow, and the discussant was Dr. Carola Ramón, CARI Vice President.

Researchers and volunteers of the IIPE attended the online round table. The meeting was also attended by H.E. Mr. Osvaldo N. Marsico, Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to the Republic of Serbia.