Brnabic: Bilateral ties with China on steady upward trajectory

BELGRADE - Serbia and China are connected by a steely friendship and good political cooperation as well as by a comprehensive strategic partnership, Serbian PM Ana Brnabic said on Wednesday at a meeting with the First Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Li Hongzhong.

Brnabic noted that Sino-Serbian bilateral relations were on a steady upward trajectory, thanks, above all, to friendly relationships between officials of the two countries.

She said the cooperation had seen a historic rise in recent years and that China was also Serbia's second-largest external trade partner and foreign investor.

She said Serbia was committed to advance its cooperation with China further and noted the significance of the most important Chinese investments and implementation of major Chinese projects in Serbia, above all, in railway and transport infrastructure.

She said Serbia would continue to provide active and strong support to the Belt and Road global initiative and the China-CEEC cooperation mechanism.

Conveying the regards of Chinese PM Li Keqiang, Li said the high level of political cooperation was a result of the steely friendship between the two countries as well as practical cooperation both countries were strongly committed to.

He noted that the Chinese government would continue to encourage new investments in Serbia, and welcomed Serbia's stable climate for cooperation and attracting foreign companies.

He said China would persevere in its consistent stance and support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia.

Brnabic said she expected cooperation in technological innovation, biotech and the IT sector to also be improved through joint efforts, the Serbian government said in a statement.