Huawei opens centre for digital innovation and development in Belgrade

Large foreign companies have a big role in the expansion of the IT sector, she said.  

A representative of the Chinese company said he hoped Serbia’s Government would maintain equal treatment for business partners.  

Asked by reporters about the possible impact of some points of the Washington documents on relations with Huawei, Brnabic said Serbia was not interested in unreliable technologies, but in a public call for the introduction of the 5G network being open and transparent, respecting international standards.  

A part of the Washington documents says Serbia has pledged not to rely on “unreliable partners” in introducing the 5G technology. By the US standards, it referred to the Huawei.

Earlier, Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic said there was no mention of either Huawei or China during the talks at the White House on September 4.

Brnabic said that she understood "all the speculations about some points of the Washington agreement, but our delegation did not have an easy task. President (Aleksandar) Vucic managed to keep the door open with all partners without putting Serbia in an unenviable position to violate its regulations."    

According to her, when it comes to 5G networks, international standards must be respected, as well as everywhere in the world.  

Brnabic said she talked about it with the representatives of the Huawei company and that both sides understood the point of the document from Washington in the same way, meaning Serbia should have an open and transparent tender for partners when the time comes for the 5G network.

Chen Bo, the Chinese ambassador to Serbia said she was glad "that Huawei is actively expanding cooperation with partners in Serbia in an open, honest environment," Chen said.