CONSTRUCTION began on a new section of the Belgrade-Budapest railway in Serbia at a ceremony on Monday. Attended by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, and Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Chen Bo, the ceremony took place in Novi Sad, Serbia.

Works on the 108-kilometer section of the high-speed railway which runs from Novi Sad to the Kelebija border crossing in North Serbia, were launched with a push of a button by Vucic, Szijjarto, Chen Bo, and a representative of the Chinese consortium. This section of railway will include underpasses, overpasses and other infrastructure.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vucic highlighted the importance of the railway for the future development of Serbia, and praised friendly ties with both China and Hungary.

“We will enjoy this, and it will bring benefits both through construction and through higher salaries and pensions, a higher standard of living, and a better future for our children,” he said.

The Serbian part of the railway will be completed in three years, Vucic said, while Szijarto announced that the Hungarian section of the railway, which is 167 kilometers long, should be finished before 2025.

The Belgrade-Budapest railway, which totals 350 kilometers long, will enable people and goods to travel between the capitals of Serbia and Hungary in around two hours, explained Vucic.

Meanwhile, Szijarto emphasized that Hungary and Serbia are both looking forward to their cooperation with China, as they believe it will help raise standards of living in their country. (Xinhua)