A subsection of a new highway in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), constructed by a consortium of Chinese and Azerbaijani companies, opened on Thursday.

According to representatives from one of the constructors China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), the Pocitelj - Zvirovici subsection project, part of the pan-European Corridor Vc highway, features a dual carriageway with four lanes. It spans approximately 11 km, including the Hercegovina Bridge, which is almost one km long.

The bridge was built by the Power Construction Corporation of China and Azerbaijan's AzVirt LLC, while CSCEC built the remaining part of the section. The cost of the section is estimated at 100 million euros.

The pan-European Corridor Vc will connect the Adriatic port of Ploce in Croatia with Budapest in Hungary, via BiH. The section opened on Thursday is the first highway and bridge project undertaken by Chinese companies in BiH.

Once the BiH project is entirely completed, it will become an economic artery for Central and Eastern Europe, significantly boosting the flow of people and goods.

Borjana Kristo, chairperson of the BiH Council of Ministers, said the project will greatly enhance the country's economic development.

"It not only connects the south and the north of BiH, but is also a corridor through Croatia, enabling the development of the economy. This project gives a new dimension to the development of BiH and sets a high standard. This is the basis for continuing the construction of road infrastructure," said Kristo.

Miao Dake, charge d'affaires at the Chinese Embassy in Bosnia, highlighted the project as another successful example of China's Belt and Road Initiative, showcasing the strength of Chinese technology and partnerships.

The Corridor Vc in BiH is the first major motorway and largest-ever infrastructure project in the country's history, according to the Western Balkans Investment Framework.