Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic attends the opening ceremony of a Chinese-built highway section in southwestern Serbia's Lucani municipality, July 5, 2025.
Vucic highlighted the project's significance, stating: "This is one of the most important infrastructure projects in our country. Together with our Chinese friends, using their technology and our determination, we overcame all challenges." The China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) played a key role in the project’s execution.
This newly opened stretch features Serbia’s longest road tunnels, Laz (2,858 meters) and Munjino Brdo (2,861 meters), built to international standards with advanced engineering. The section, navigating challenging mountainous terrain, includes numerous bridges and tunnels, enhancing connectivity between central and western Serbia. It is a vital link in the E-763 corridor, connecting Serbia to Montenegro, Romania, and Italy, with future plans to extend the highway from Pozega to further improve regional transport.
The Preljina-Pozega section, with an investment exceeding 520 million U.S. dollars, is among Serbia’s largest infrastructure projects. The earlier Preljina-Pakovrace segment opened in 2022. The new section will be toll-free until July 15, 2025, and open to passenger traffic from noon on July 6, 2025.
Li Ming described the highway as a critical transport route linking Belgrade to Montenegro’s port of Bar and Serbia’s northern and western regions. He noted: "The successful completion of the project reflects the expertise and dedication of all involved, and stands as a testament to the ironclad friendship between China and Serbia." The highway is expected to improve traffic flow, boost economic growth, and enhance quality of life for local communities.
The project’s completion marks a significant step in modernizing Serbia’s infrastructure, facilitating trade and travel while strengthening regional ties.
