Dacic meets with Chinese ambassador

BELGRADE - Serbian First Deputy PM and FM Ivica Dacic received Chinese Ambassador to Belgrade Chen Bo on Monday.

In an open and cordial conversation, they said Serbia and China were committed to continued development of firm ties based on comprehensive strategic partnership and a steely friendship.

Noting his gratitude to friendly China for its respect of Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, firmly based on international law, Dacic reiterated that Serbia consistently supported the One China policy and the One Country, Two Systems principle.

Dacic and Chen confirmed a readiness to continue to boost bilateral and multilateral cooperation, as well as cooperation as part of the Belt and Road initiative and the China-Central and Eastern European Countries cooperation mechanism, to which Serbia attaches great significance, an official statement said.

The parties expressed interest in stepping up political dialogue further with exchanges of high- and top-level visits and further advancement of economic and investment cooperation, with particular emphasis on attracting new Chinese companies to Serbia, on investments in new infrastructure projects and on concluding a free trade agreement.

They especially expressed satisfaction over the recent establishment of direct flights between Serbia and China as another confirmation of the strong ties and closeness between the two peoples, the statement also said.