Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

MARINA RAGUS, deputy speaker of the Serbian parliament, believes that there is a lot of untapped potential for collaboration between Shenzhen’s firms and Serbia. In particular, she mentioned a possible plan by BYD to establish a presence in Serbia and the numerous avenues for future partnerships with UBTech Robotics during a visit to Shenzhen last week.

A Serbian parliamentary delegation, led by Ragus and another deputy speaker Snezana Paunovic, explored the innovative landscape of Shenzhen during a tech-inspired visit from Wednesday to Friday. The delegation’s itinerary included tours of prominent Shenzhen tech giants like BYD, Mindray, and UBTech Robotics.

Ragus and her delegation experienced the cutting-edge offerings of BYD, from boarding their eco-friendly vehicles to examining a variety of car models and technological breakthroughs.

Equally engaging was their visit to Mindray, where they donned 3D endoscopic vision glasses and gained insight into the company’s comprehensive emergency care, critical care, diagnostics, and medical imaging solutions.

“Today, technology is everything. For doctors and physicians, this is the best efficiency they can dream about,” Ragus said during a tour of Mindray.

A highlight of the delegation’s trip was an encounter with UBTech Robotics’ humanoid robots, which are designed for health, elderly care, and education. Members of the delegation marveled at their sophistication and intelligence. “So smart. It’s gorgeous,” Ragus said with amazement.

Ragus reflected on the significance of the visit, stating, “This opportunity is invaluable, allowing us to visit the companies at the vanguard of diverse industries.” She expressed admiration for Shenzhen’s industrialization marvels as well as the corporate culture and philosophy of the companies she visited.

“Through this visit, we have seen the enormous potential for cooperation between Shenzhen firms and Serbia,” Ragus said.

Notably, Ragus observed the substantial research and development (R&D) investment by these companies. She highlighted that, as a proportion of GDP, Shenzhen’s R&D investment is nearly 6%, a benchmark for the future trajectory of Serbian firms.

Ragus was also deeply touched by the social responsibility initiatives of Shenzhen’s companies and recalled the solidarity shown by Chinese firms during Serbia’s times of need. This, she emphasized, embodies the iron-clad friendship that has withstood the test of time.

Earlier this month, Mindray donated emergency medical equipment, such as automatic external defibrillators (AEDs), to the Serbian Olympic Committee, thereby supporting Serbia’s participation in the Paris Olympics.