Interview: Former Serbian FM warns against global trade disruption

Ivan Mrkic, a seasoned diplomat and former Serbian foreign minister, who currently serves on the National Council for Coordination of Cooperation with the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Belgrade, Serbia, April 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Shi Zhongyu)

BELGRADE, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Disruptions to established global trade norms risk reversing decades of hard-earned progress, Serbian diplomat Ivan Mrkic has warned, while voicing strong support for continued Chinese investment through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), calling it a model of mutual respect and shared interest.

Mrkic, a seasoned diplomat and former Serbian foreign minister, currently serves on the National Council for Coordination of Cooperation with the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China. He expressed concern over recent tariff policies enacted by U.S. President Donald Trump, including a 145 percent levy on Chinese goods and a 37 percent tariff on select Serbian products.

"It is abnormal to introduce turbulence and abrupt changes to established regulations -- especially those underpinning the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)," Mrkic said. "Many lives were lost to establish those principles. They must be preserved and carefully maintained."

Turning to Serbia's deepening engagement with the BRI, Mrkic emphasized the importance of foreign investment and praised China's strategic vision and economic ascent.

According to the National Bank of Serbia, China was the largest foreign investor in the country in 2024, largely through BRI-linked projects in mining, infrastructure, and manufacturing. Chinese direct investment liabilities totaled more than 1.63 billion euros (1.85 billion U.S. dollars), accounting for over 31 percent of Serbia's total foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows.

"Anyone who brings investment is welcome, especially China, whose success was built through long-term effort and strategic planning," Mrkic said. He described the BRI as a vehicle for global cooperation, a project built not on division, but on connection.

When asked whether BRI cooperation could help offset the negative effects of escalating trade tensions, Mrkic said he believes that is already visible.

"But unfortunately, many global powers are increasingly turning to regional strategies. I am not in favor of such exclusivity. The world needs cooperation -- not fragmentation," he said. (1 euro = 1.13 U.S. dollar)