A Chinese consortium was chosen to build a controversial bridge deemed vital for Croatia’s tourism industry, officials said Friday, announcing the first significant Chinese investment in the European Union member. The 2.08-billion-kuna (279-million-euro, $338-million) offer by the China Road and Bridge Corporation-led consortium for construction of the bridge was “economically most favourable,” a statement from the state-run Croatian Roads firm said. The offer from the Chinese state-owned construction company was cheaper than that of Austria’s Strabag – 279 million euros in comparison to 351 million euros. China has made few big investments in Croatia so far, but Chinese companies are becoming more and more present in the rest of the Balkans.
A Chinese rescue team recovers two bodies from the MV Sanchi and salvages the voyage data recorder from the bridge.