Storyline: Serbia marks milestone in transport infrastructure with opening of major Chinese-built highway [Voice_over] A new road now weaves through the hills and tunnels of western Serbia — linking towns, trade, and tourism across the region. The Pakovraće to Požega stretch of the E-763 highway has been years in the making — delayed by demanding terrain and unstable rock formations. Five bridges and two major tunnels - Munjino Brdo and Laz - allow the highway to navigate rugged topography, adding to its reputation as one of the most technically demanding highway segments in Serbia. That was acknowledged by the Serbian President Vučić at the opening ceremony earlier this month. [Sound_bite] Aleksandar Vucic, Serbian President: "I saw that all our Chinese friends understood how many problems they have and how many hardships they face. However, we are united by their technology, their knowledge, and our persistence and hard work. We managed to solve the problems and we are opening this section today." [Voice_over] The highway’s smart control center now operates out of the Munjino Brdo tunnel, where real-time monitoring ensures both safety and traffic flow. Final touches are still being made, but the highway is already operational—a symbol of Serbia’s push to become a Balkan transit hub. [Sound_bite] Shou Jicheng, Project Manager, China Communications Construction Company: "This project lasted for several years, from the start to the end. There were certain technical difficulties, and there were also considerable adverse geological factors. We are very grateful to the local governments and residents along the route of the Serbian government, including our financing and investment parties, for their strong support for our project." [Voice_over] The new link reaches Požega, setting the stage for expanded connectivity to Montenegro’s Adriatic coast, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital - Sarajevo. It also marks a major milestone toward a broader strategic goal: the completion of the Pan-European Corridor XI — a key transport artery connecting the Romanian capital Bucharest with Italy's port of Bari - running through Serbia and Montenegro. Chinese companies hope to continue work on the next segments of that strategic highway. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]