Brnabic: Xi said he would try to visit Serbia next year

BEIJING - After meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Serbian PM Ana Brnabic said on Monday in Beijing the discussion with Xi had been excellent and that the Chinese leader had said he would try to come to Serbia next year.

"That is a big thing for us, for our country and all our citizens. We confirmed the mutual partnership, support and friendship, politically and economically," Brnabic told reporters.

She said China would never change its position on the Kosovo-Metohija issue and noted that Serbia fully respected the One China policy and added that that would never change either.

She said Serbia-China economic ties were very good and constantly improving.

"Of course, I expect a new era in the relations and bilateral trade after the signing of the FTA," Brnabic said.

She noted that the future of the Smederevo steel mill was safe and that its owner, China's HBIS Group, had clear plans for additional investments.

She said energy efficiency and green transition would be the next focus of a second round of investments at the steel mill.

"They also have plans for a section of the steel mill to be hydrogen-powered," Brnabic also said.