In June 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the steel mill during his visit to Serbia. The workers "customized" a gift for Xi Jinping with the steel they produced - a memorial plaque for the silhouette of the Smederevo Steel Plant.
, a commemorative plaque forged from steel, is engraved with the story of a century-old factory that was brought back to life with the help of China.
In June 2016, workers at the Smederevo Steel Plant in Serbia presented President Xi Jinping's steel plate engraving factory silhouette commemorative plaque. (Photo/Hu Yang)
Smederevo Steel Plant was once a large-scale state-owned pillar enterprise in Serbia. In its heyday, it contributed 40% of the city’s financial revenue, and nearly 1/3 of the residents’ work and life are closely related to this large plant. closely related. Some locals even have a habit of taking a look at the blast furnace chimney after getting up in the morning. If the chimney is smoking, it means that the steel plant is running normally, and they feel at ease.
However, in the late 1990s, due to declining competitiveness, the Smederevo steel mill was in trouble, and the government even spent tens of millions of dollars a year to support the enterprise. After bankruptcy, sale, government $1 repurchase, and escrow by foreign companies, there is only one blast furnace left in the factory. An old employee recalled: "At that time, we didn't plan future development at all, we just thought that the blast furnace would not stop tomorrow, and the employees would not lose their jobs." In order to save the steel mill, the Serbian government organized several rounds of international bidding, but all were unsuccessful. "We stayed up countless days and nights for this, and all the cabinet members put in a lot of hard work." Vucic, then Prime Minister of Serbia, said, "Finally, China's partners have brought us real hope."
June 2016 On the morning of the 19th, President Xi Jinping visited the Serbia Smederevo Steel Plant of HBIS Group in Belgrade. The picture shows Xi Jinping delivering a warm speech at the steel mill. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Lin
In April 2016, taking advantage of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative, China Hegang Group invested 46 million euros to acquire Smederevo Steel Plant and established Hegang Group Serbia Steel Company.
"has been losing money for 7 consecutive years, can it work with a few Chinese people?" At the beginning, some senior executives in Serbia had many doubts, but the facts quickly gave the answer.
introduced more than 20 technologies and management systems from HBIS ; implemented the ratio and reuse of waste slag, and used "economic materials" to produce higher-standard steel; after thorough research and judgment, re-ignited the No. 2 blast furnace that had been shut down for many years...Acquisition In less than half a year, the steel mill turned losses into profits and became the largest exporter in Serbia in 2018, with high-quality steel shipped to more than 30 countries and regions. More than 5,000 employees facing unemployment returned to the workshop.
revives a steel mill, benefiting thousands of families. Jankovic, a retired worker in his 80s, has been displaying the national flags of China and Serbia at home. Once, he firmly held the hand of the Chinese manager and told him that he must convey his gratitude to China. The old man has experienced war and poverty, but now, four generations of a family are working in the steel mill, and they live a stable life. The children of many employees in the company have learned Chinese and hope to study in China when they grow up. The success of Hegang and Saigang has enhanced the friendship and exchanges between the people of China and Cyprus, and wrote a touching story of "China and Cyprus as a family" on the beautiful Danube River. (Source: Hebei Daily )
In September 2018, Serbian President Vucic said during a meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing: "Smederevo Steel Plant's resurrection is a successful example. It strongly proves the 'Belt and Road' initiative. What it brings to Serbia is the increase of employment and economic growth."
mentioned the "Belt and Road" initiative, and the former Serbian leader admitted that "in recent decades, there is no other initiative that can compare with it." Since Xi Jinping's visit to Serbia in 2016, the bilateral trade volume between China and Serbia has tripled, and Serbia's economic growth rate has been at the forefront of European countries for consecutive years. Led by Chinese companies, z2The Belgrade bridge across the Danube was completed and opened to traffic, the first phase of the Kostorac power station project has been completed, the second phase of the project has been carried out smoothly, and the Hungary-Serbia railway and other projects are progressing steadily. The
Smederevo steel mill has been brought back to life. (Source: Hebei Daily) There are many examples of the rebirth of
in the countries along the “Belt and Road”, similar to the rebirth of the Smederevo steel mill. In Indonesia , China Energy Construction has changed the situation of the closure of the largest local thermal power plant, Cilaza Power Plant, and trained nearly 1,000 local power technicians; in Greece , COSCO SHIPPING Group helped Piray The port of Eves has been revived, making it one of the most important transit ports and logistics centers along the Mediterranean coast; in Poland , Hubei Tri-Ring Group acquired Krasnik, who was in deep losses and was "on the line" The bearing factory made the factory profitable soon. The workers said that they "found a reliable partner." For the local people, the "Belt and Road" is water and electricity, roads and bridges, schools and hospitals, and it is also a change of individual destiny and a future worth looking forward to.
On the morning of June 19, 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited HBIS Serbia Smederevo Steel Plant in Belgrade. The picture shows Xi Jinping, accompanied by the leaders of the Serbian side, came to the staff canteen to communicate and interact with the workers. Xinhua News Agency reporter Ma Zhancheng photo
For more than 6 years, the employees of Smederevo Steel Plant have never forgotten the scene of Xi Jinping's visit to the factory. "We must keep our word and do our best." At that time, Xi Jinping said to the expectant workers, "What we promised, including introducing advanced technology, developing a wider market, ensuring local employment, and benefiting the people's livelihood, must be done. "
