Bosnia and Herzegovina is a Balkan country located in Southeast Europe with a long history. It has experienced rule under various powers and religions over the centuries. The country endured war in the 1990s following the breakup of Yugoslavia but has since achieved peace and stability. It maintains a multi-ethnic society and aims to integrate further with the European Union economically and politically.

1. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Introducing the Heart-Shaped Country
Specially prepared for:
China Foreign Affairs University
Amel Kovačević, Ambassador

2. What is Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Bosnia and Herzegovina is the heart-shaped country
located in the South-East of Europe with long history of
its statehood.
Bosnia, meaning running water, was named after its
abundant freshwater rivers, streams and springs.
Herzegovina was named after the Herzeg (Duke)
Stephan, who was the prominent mediaeval ruler of
the Southern Bosnian lands.
Herzegovina literally means the land belonging to the
Duke.

3. What is Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a emerging federal
democratic republic that operates under the rule
of law and with free and democratic elections.
Head of the state is the Presidency
The Parliamentary Assembly is the lawmaking
body that consists of two houses:
the House of Peoples and
the House of Representatives.
The Council of Ministers is government
comprising of 9 ministries.

4. What is Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
Federation of
Republic of
Bosnia and Brčko District
Srpska BD
Herzegovina RS
10 Cantons FBIH RS
74 63
Municipalities Municipalities

5. What is Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Bosnia and Herzegovina
is mostly a mountainous
country with the Dinaric
Alps dominating
the landscape.
Rich forests and
greeneries cover almost
50% of the land.
In the North, along the
Sava River valley, a hilly,
fertile plain stretches east
to west.

6. What is Bosnia and Herzegovina?
The country has 21.2 km of coastline in the
Southwest of the country, providing access to the
Adriatic Sea in the town of Neum.
Mediterranean (maritime) climate in the southeast,
continental mountain (Alps) climate in the central part,
moderate continental (central European) climate in the
north.
Area: 51.209,20 km²
Major Cities: Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Tuzla, Zenica ,
Bijeljina, Mostar , Prijedor, Brčko, Bihać and Doboj

7. Where is Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Located in the Balkans,
the South-East of
Europe
Neighboring
Countries: Croatia,
Serbia, Montenegro
Access to Adriatic Sea
and Rhine–Main–
Danube Canal through
Sava River
Regional transport
and energy corridors
Bosnia and Herzegovina
波黑在欧洲的地理位置

8. South East Europe 欧洲东南部
Moldova
Hungary
Slovenia
Croatia Romania
B&H Serbia
MN Bulgaria
Albania
Macedonia
Greece
Turkey
Bosnia and Herzegovina
波黑在欧洲东南部的位置

9. Who is Bosnia and Herzegovina?
In 1991, Bosnia and Herzegovina had a population of
4,377,033.
43.47% are Bosniaks, 31.21% are Serbs, and 17.38% are
Croats, while 5.54% are considered Yugoslavs and 2.38%
others.
The official languages are Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian
language.
The main religions are Islam, Orthodox and Roman
Catholic Christianity
Strong correlation between ethnic identity and religion
in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has survived for centuries as a
multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-confessional
community.

10. Historical Overview
Early Days - Bosnian Pyramids
Result of anthropological genetic testing have proven
that Bosnia is second oldest oasis of life in Europe with
27,000 years of uninterupted presence of human.
Fascinating discovery of pyramidal man made structure
in Visoko town.
These are the first pyramids discovered in Europe
The site includes the biggest pyramidal structure in the
world(over 220m).
The most precise orientation towards the cosmic north
with the error of 0 degrees, 0 minutes and 12 seconds.
It is completely covered by rectangular concrete blocks
much superior to the modern concrete materials.
Over 12,000 years old.

11. Historical Overview
Early Days – Bosnian Pyramids

12. Historical Overview
Ancient time
Early inhabitants Illyrians, invasion of Celts
Since 9 AD Roman rule, colonists and settlements,
civilization, art, transport infrastructure.
Invasion of Germanic tribes of Goths in 3rd century BC
Invasion of Mongolian tribes of Huns in 4th and Iranian
tribes of Alans in 5th century BC
Invasion of Turkic tribes of Avars and Slavs in 6 century
Melting pot of races, cultures and civilizations
Slavic tribes migration to Bosnia gradually influenced
domicile population that was eventually slavenised.
Arrival of Slavic tribes of Serbs and Croats on Balkan
Peninsula in 7th century

13. Historical Overview
Ancient time
Walls of ancient Daorson, Ošanići near Stolac, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3rd century BC.

14. Historical Overview
Mediaeval Bosnian State
Tvrtko I
Kotromanić ruled
in 1353–1366
and again in
1367–1377 as
ban and in 1377–
1391 as the first
King of Bosnia.
Bosnian medieval state
between 9th and 1463
Bosnian royal Kotromanić
family tree

15. Historical Overview
Mediaeval Bosnian State
One of the earliest states of South Slavs in Balkan Peninsula
The Charter of Ban Kulin is trade agreement between Bosnia
and the Republic of Ragusa that regulates trade rights in Bosnia
written on August 29, 1189.
It is one of the oldest written state documents of South Slavs
in the Balkans and is among the oldest historical documents
written in bosančica early alphabet of Bosnian language.

16. Historical Overview
Mediaeval Bosnian State
Exploitation of natural resources especially metals such
as copper, silver, gold, lead as well as wood and agricultural
products.
Bosnian strategic location open trade routes to the East
360 fortified towns across the state

17. Historical Overview
Mediaeval Bosnian State
Religious freedom and safe heaven for Christian heretics
Bosnian church authentic Christian belief in Bosnia
The Stećci are monumental medieval tombstones that lie scattered across mediaeval
Bosnian state. An estimated 60,000 are found within the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina
and the rest of 10,000 are found in neighboring countries. The Stećci have been nominated
to the UNESCO World Heritage List as Joint Cultural Heritage by the four countries in 2009

18. Historical Overview
Mediaeval Bosnian State

19. Historical Overview
Ottoman Era
Ottomans conquered Kingdom of Bosnia 1463
New rulers started building urban centers, transport
infrastructure, educational institutions
Religious freedom accompanied with introduction of
Islam
Bosnian
Ottoman
heritage is still
vivid and
attracts great
interest of
tourists

20. Historical Overview
Ottoman Era
Bosnia preserved its administrative identity
Development of authentic culture and arts
Fall of the Ottoman Empire and withdrawal from
Bosnia after 415 years left significant changes in
Bosnian society

21. Historical Overview
Ottoman Era
The Ottoman provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 17th century.

22. Historical Overview
Austro-Hungarian Era (1878-1918)
Bosnia was occupied by Austro-Hungarian Monarchy
Introduction of new state name of Bosnia and
Herzegovina and state borders that are internationally
recognized today
Industrial and Urban Development
Modernization
Europeanization
Assassination of Archduke
Franz Ferdinand
Beginning of WWI

23. Historical Overview
Austro-Hungarian Era (1878-1918)
Wood processing, mining, industrial production,
intensive usage of railway, development of technical
education, social and economic progress.

24. Historical Overview
Austro-Hungarian Era (1878-1918)
The map of Bosnia and Herzegovina as at the Congress of Berlin 1878

25. Historical Overview
Rise and Fall of Yugoslavias 1918-1992
Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians 1918-1929
Kingdom of Yugoslavia 1929-1941
WWII and Peoples Liberation War and Socialist
Revolution
The Socialist
Federative
Republic of
Yugoslavia
consisted of 6
republics

26. Historical Overview
Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia 1945-1992
Yugoslavia under CPY has experience tremendous
social and economic progress in first 30 years after
WWII
Yugoslavia gain respect and recognition of the world

27. Historical Overview
Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia 1945-1992
Sarajevo XIV Winter Olympic Games-Peak of Yugoslavia

28. Historical Overview
Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia 1945-1992
During 1980s, upon death of Marshal Tito, long
lasting communist leader, Yugoslavia was faced with
economic as well as political crisis.
Yugoslavia failed to reinvent itself, and differences of
future prospects of different republics continue to grow.
Bosnia and Herzegovina opted for Yugoslavia in all
possible forms provided that both Serbia and Croatia
remain part of it.
Based on the recommendations of the International
Arbitrary Commission, the dissolution of SFRY was
stated and the republics were invited to declare their
position on the independence.

29. Historical Overview
Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia 1945-1992
Slovenia and Croatia declared independence, and
Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina decided to go on
referendum on its future status.
Referendum held on 1st March 1992 showed that
64.31% of total voters participated while 99.44% of
them responded in favor of independence.
Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina became
member of UN on 22nd May 1992
After the independence wars in Slovenia and Croatia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina became the victim of bestial
destruction of human and physical resources.

30. Historical Overview
Bosnian War 1992-1995
Due to arms embargo, disproportionate international
conflict involving regular military forces of neighboring
countries on territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina
More than 110,000 killed, 30,000 raped, 1 million
displaced
Sarajevo under siege for 42 months –the longest siege
in history
Ethnic cleansing radically changed ethnic composition,
The International Criminal Tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia (ICTY) was established in 1993 as a body of the
UN to prosecute war crimes committed during the wars in
the former Yugoslavia, and to try their perpetrators.

31. Historical Overview
Bosnian War 1992-1995
In February 2007 the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) concurred with the International Criminal Tribunal
for the former Yugoslavia judgment confirming Srebrenica
massacre as genocide

32. Historical Overview
Bosnian War 1992-1995
Dayton Peace Accord 1995
Preserved sovereignty and territorial integrity
Administrative division mainly follows military
lines
Peace building and reconstruction of
devastated country
State building and Reconciliation process
Lessons from the past and looking forward
approach

33. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Peace and Prosperity
Security and stability
Return of refugees and building up multiethnic society
Reconstruction lead economic development
European integration process

34. BH Economy
Bosnia and Herzegovina
General Economic Indicators*
in million of Euros 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011**
Nominal GDP 8200 8800 9900 11100 12600 12300 12650 13200
GDP per Capita in Euros 2122 2283 2564 2898 3289 3194 3293 3426
Real Growth Rate 6.30% 3.90% 6% 6.20% 5.70% -0.29% 0.70% 1.80%
Industrial Production Growth Rate 9% 10% 11% 10% 9.20% -3.30% 1.60% 6.10%
Average Inflation on Annual Level 0.40% 3.80% 6.10% 1.50% 7.40% -0.40% 3.10% 3.80%
BH Unemployment Rate 43.20% 43% 31% 29% 23.40% 24.10% 27.10% 27.60%
Average Net Wages in Euros 258 275 300 322 385 404 408 416
Foreign Debt 2.061 2.218 2.081 2.025 2.168 2.658 3.195 3.323
Foreign Debt / GDP 25.1% 25.2% 21.0% 18.2% 17.2% 21.6% 25.3% 25.2%
Current Account Deficit -1443.17 -1499.67 -769.65 -1156.18 -1797.7 -761.57 -761.82 -1073.71
CAD/GDP 17.60% 17.04% 7.77% 10.41% 14.27% 6.19% 6.02% 8.13%
Exports 1676.94 2087.25 2687.24 3091.54 3522 2920.25 3761.93 4333.81
Export Growth 28.70% 24.10% 28.70% 15.04% 13.92% -17.08% 28.82% 15.20%
Imports 5354.50 6092.92 6093.07 7233.58 8344.63 6330.11 7020.81 8006.46
Imports Coverage 30.29% 32.15% 45.34% 42.72% 42.21% 44.80% 52,1% 54.12%
FDI 412 282 442 1329 684 180 174 240***
Foreign Reserves 1779 2160 2787 3425 3219 3176 3301 3118.9
* Source: Centra l Ba nk of Bos ni a a nd Herzegovi na
** Prel i mi na ry fi gures
*** Prel i mi na ry fi gure for fi rs t three qua rters of 2011

35. EU integration process
In 1999 B&H was offered the perspective of the accession of
the European Union through the Stabilization and Association
Process.
Negotiations with the EU on the Stabilization and Association
Agreement began in 2006
B&H has signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement
with EU in 2008 thus becoming an associate member of the
European Union
Submission of the application for the membership in the
European Union this year
The European Integration Process is equally important as the
EU membership because while undertaking this process our
country will complete necessary institutional changes, in addition
to the absolute adjustment to the European standards.

36. 萨拉热窝(Sarajevo)
波黑首都，30多年前《瓦尔特保卫萨拉热窝》在中国放映，使得这座城
市在中国家喻户晓。
萨拉热窝1984年举办了冬奥会。

37. 莫斯塔尔(Mostar)
Mostar意为“桥的守护者”，是波黑最主要的旅游城市之一。
莫斯塔尔以一座古老石桥著称，老桥已被列入联合国教科文组织世界遗
产保护名单。
市街道和建筑风格
老桥

38. 巴尼亚卢卡(Banja Luka)
巴尼亚卢卡早就以众多林荫大道和风景秀美的公园和花园而
闻名于世，因此它有“绿色之都”的雅号。

39. 梅杜戈耶小镇（MEĐUGORJE）
在梅杜戈耶小镇一直流传着这样一个故事，梅杜戈耶本是一个名不见经传的小镇，
但1981年的一天六个在山上玩耍的少年声称自己看到了圣母玛利亚，随之此山便
被命名为显圣山，从此小镇声名鹊起。
圣母玛利亚雕像 小镇美景

40. 极限运动：漂流
在雅虎旅游一项名为“2012最不能错过的十大冒险地”的调查中，波黑
榜上有名。
波黑的漂流举世闻名：乌纳（Una）、弗尔巴斯（Vrbas）、内雷特瓦
（Neretva）和塔拉（Tara）河都是极佳的漂流地点。
期待刺激！期待惊险！期待与自然的搏斗！期待“有惊无险”后的轻松！
在忙碌的都市生活中，人们一直在寻找的不就是这样一种激动、一种区
别于平凡生活的独特感受吗？

41. 两位诺贝尔奖获得者
弗拉迪米尔·普雷洛格（Vladimir Prelog）于1975年荣获诺贝尔化学奖。
伊沃·安德里奇于1961年荣获诺贝尔文学奖。

42. 波黑电影业
萨拉热窝电影节无疑是萨拉热窝的年度盛事，创建18年以来，
它已成为本地区最为重要的电影节，每年众多明星出席。

43. 波黑电影业
电影《瓦尔特保卫萨拉热窝》早已家喻户晓。
波黑导演丹尼斯·塔诺维奇因电影《无人地带》荣获奥斯卡金像奖。
瓦尔特保卫萨拉热窝 丹尼斯·塔诺维奇

44. 丰富多彩的文化生活

45. Bilateral relation between Bosnia and
Herzegovina and PR China
The relations between the two peoples go back to the period of the Silk
Route
Federative People's Republic of Yugoslavia recognized PR China on 1st
October 1949

46. Bilateral relation between Bosnia and
Herzegovina and PR China
PR China, as UN SC member, supported membership of Bosnia and
Herzegovina to UN on 22nd May 1992
The Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as one of the six successor
states of former Yugoslavia, was recognized by People’s Republic of China
on 3rd April 1995.
The Embassy of PR of China was opened in Sarajevo during March 1997
while the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina was opened in Beijing in
January 1999.
Bosnia and Herzegovina pursues "One China" policy and thereby
recognizes the PRC as the sole and legal representative of China.
There are no outstanding political issues between B&H and the PRC
given that the two countries follow peaceful foreign policies based on
friendship, mutual trust and respect for national sovereignty and territorial
integrity, as well as non-interference in internal affairs and mutual benefit.

47. Bilateral relation between Bosnia and
Herzegovina and PR China

48. Areas of economic cooperation that
should be explored by Chinese corporate
sector
中国公司可以开拓的经济合作领域
There is immediate opportunity for Chinese corporate
sector to take participation in development of our transport
infrastructure including construction of backbone highway
network.
中国公司可以直接参与交通基础设施的发展，包括建设骨
干公路网。
Chinese corporations should be able to use leverage of
its technological superiority as well as domestic source of
soft funds competing for the projects.
中国公司可以利用自己先进的技术及本国的资金来竞标。

49. 中国公司可以开拓的经济合作领域
Power production is one of the most significant export
oriented sector of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with long
tradition and huge potentials and opportunities for
further development and investment.
发电是波黑最重要的以出口为导向的工业部门之一，它的
历史很长，潜力巨大，投资和发展的机会很多。
There are concrete projects prepared by relevant
governmental bodies to build numerous hydro and
thermo power plants as well as wind farms.
波黑政府部门已经有具体的投资项目，如水力发电厂，热
力发电厂和风力发电厂等。

50. Sectors to Consider Investing in BH
可以考虑的波黑投资领域
Other economic sectors with comparative advantages
in BH opened for Chinese investments are:
波黑对中国投资开放的具有相对优势的经济领域还有：
Wood processing industries 木材加工工业
Textile & leather industries 纺织和皮革工业
Agriculture & food processing 农业和食品加工业
Machinery & automobile industries 机械和汽车工业
Pharmaceutical industry 医药工业
Tourism 旅游业
Education 教育

52. Amel Kovačević, ambassador
e-mail: amel.kovacevic@mfa.gov.ba
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