Selaković: Serbia and China proud of their steel friendship

"This was a unique opportunity to discuss the existing relations between Serbia and China and their future improvement. We are two countries that have a comprehensive strategic partnership and that are proud of their steel friendship, marked by the best relations between our presidents Aleksandar Vučić and Xi Jinping. "Those relations were the main trigger for the development of our bilateral relations", Selaković said.

The head of Serbian diplomacy said that he had talked with his Chinese counterpart about cooperation and mutual support in international forums and organizations, because our countries are fully committed to respecting the international legal order and the UN Charter.

"Serbia is proud of the fact that it has the support of the People's Republic of China regarding the issue of Kosovo and Metohija. Your support, as well as the support of your ministry, is something that contributes to our difficult position being less difficult and to feeling stronger in the fight to resist pressure on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija", Selaković said.

Recalling that since the historic visit of President Xi Jinping to Serbia in 2016, the trade exchange of our countries has tripled, and that Serbian exports to China have increased 15 times, Selaković stated that these are exact and visible results of our good political and economic cooperation.

"We completely agreed on all the issues we discussed and we will be there for each other as in the previous years. We expect the next historic visit of President Xi Jinping, because such was his previous visit, after which everything started to develop in a good direction", Selaković said.

Citing the results of Serbian-Chinese cooperation in the field of infrastructure and greenfield investments, Selaković pointed out that Serbia is interested in continuing cooperation in those fields.

According to Minister Selaković, despite the pandemic, there was not a single Chinese company that suspended work in Serbia, and all plans were fulfilled, often ahead of schedule, which is a rarity, not only in the Balkans, but also beyond.

"I thank the Chinese leadership for distributing vaccines during the epidemic. This is something that we will not forget and that we will remember forever", said Selaković.

On the occasion of the great centenary of the Communist Party of China, Selaković pointed out that China has to thank the wisdom of its leadership for its intensive development in all fields.

"This is my seventh visit to your country and I have witnessed the changes that are happening on a monthly basis, and that is something that is primarily the result of the wisdom of your leaders and such great national project as the CP of China. I wish you a happy anniversary and many more centenaries. I am sure that our children will witness new successes and that they will be proud of the work of their ancestors", concluded Selaković.

Minister Wang Yi stated that the Chinese and Serbian people are heroic and people of integrity, that they fought side by side and supported each other in the fight for their sovereignty and territorial integrity, and that today they crossed their arms on the path to progress.

It has been proven that the friendship and cooperation between China and Serbia have contributed to the well-being of our peoples, international relations, and the protection of international equality and justice, said the head of Chinese diplomacy, adding that there is a mutual desire to promote friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership.

Minister Wang Yi said that our two countries will continue to support each other on issues of common interest, but also that they will continue economic cooperation, cooperation in the field of education, as well as internationally, and that they will continue to show solidarity in the fight against COVID-19.