Road across mountains, bridge between hearts: China, Montenegro mark 20 years of diplomatic ties

Stretching from the Adriatic coast into Montenegro's interior, a winding highway is carving its way through the rugged landscape of the country's north-central region.

The project is a key section of Montenegro's Bar-Boljare Highway, linking Matesevo and Andrijevica. Built by a Chinese consortium, it officially broke ground on June 26 this year in the presence of Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic, Prime Minister Milojko Spajic and Chinese Ambassador to Montenegro Chen Xufeng.

The highway, designed to improve connectivity across the mountainous country, has also become a testament to the friendship between China and Montenegro, which began exactly two decades ago when the two countries established diplomatic relations on July 6, 2006, right after Beijing recognized Montenegro's independence.

Twenty years on, the two countries have steadily expanded cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (China-CEEC), building a partnership based on mutual respect, practical cooperation and shared development.

Infrastructure builds up connectivity

Infrastructure cooperation has become one of the hallmarks of China-Montenegro relations.

Since the priority section of the Bar-Boljare Highway opened to traffic in 2022, the landmark project has recorded more than 10 million vehicle trips. The newly launched second section stretches around 22 kilometers and carries an investment of around 694 million euros, making it Montenegro's largest infrastructure project currently under construction.

Besides highways, cooperation is also preserving shared historical memories. A Chinese company is carrying out the reconstruction of the Tara River Bridge, which includes structural repairs, upgrades to access roads, and enhancements to traffic safety systems and parking areas. 

Scheduled for completion later this year, the project aims to preserve the landmark made famous by the classic Yugoslav-era film The Bridge, which remains well known to Chinese audiences.

With each new stretch of road, Montenegro is becoming better connected. Improved transport networks are expected to facilitate the flow of people, goods and investment, transforming greater connectivity into new drivers of economic growth and tangible benefits for local communities.

Trade and new frontiers

Strengthened economic ties also tell a story of growing exchanges.

In recent years, China has remained Montenegro's second-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade maintaining double-digit annual growth, according to Chen Xufeng.

Beyond enhanced infrastructure, bilateral cooperation has expanded into other sectors that support the long-term economic development.

Montenegrin wine and other agricultural products, along with mineral resources such as bauxite, are gaining greater access to the Chinese market, while Chinese-made electric vehicles, smartphones and smart home appliances have become increasingly popular among Montenegrin consumers.

Sharing a common commitment to sustainable development, the two sides have joint hands in clean energy transition. The Mozura Wind Farm, launched in November 2017 as a BRI cooperation project, features Chinese-made intelligent wind turbines. The facility has supplied clean electricity while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by around 30,000 tonnes annually.

"Many people here hope that in the future we will not have to import electricity, but produce our own," said Sasa Kekic, a local employee at the project, as Montenegrin Minister of Economy Dragica Sekulic called the farm a "major step toward a more secure and stable supply of the coastal area with electricity."

Bridges of the heart

While highways and bridges have enhanced connectivity, people-to-people exchanges have brought China and Montenegro closer together.

The friendship between the two peoples, once inspired for many Chinese by The Bridge and its iconic theme song Bella Ciao, is finding new expression through education, tourism and cultural exchanges.

Montenegrin students have won the global championship of the Chinese Bridge language competition three times, becoming enthusiastic ambassadors of the Chinese language and culture and helping deepen mutual understanding.

Tourism has also emerged as a new bridge connecting the people. Montenegro has become an increasingly popular destination on Chinese social media, attracting more than 80,000 Chinese visitors in 2025, an increase of over 30% from the previous year.

At the same time, China has introduced a unilateral visa-free policy for Montenegrin citizens, facilitating visits for business, study and tourism exchanges.