Serbia negotiating Chinese loan for new bridge

The Serbian government is negotiating a € 200 million loan with the Chinese government to construct a bridge over the Danube River in Belgrade, deputy prime minister Mladjan Dinkic announced on Monday, according to China Daily.

Deputy prime minister Dinkic was quoted as saying that if negotiations were successful then, "a Chinese company would build the bridge."

The Serbian capital Belgrade is divided by the Danube and Sava Rivers, with just four bridges, which results in severe congestion. The last bridge to be built was the Gazela bridge in 1971. It carries about 130000 every day, more than three times its designed capacity.

Deputy prime minister Dinkic also said that Serbia is seeking two loans from Russia, one to construct a metro in Belgrade and another to cover the budget deficit.