Europe

Europe

Serbian PM, senior Chinese military official discuss bilateral ties

09 September 2011 20:55 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic on Friday discussed bilateral military ties with Xu Caihou, vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, APA reports.

During their talks, Cvetkovic said that Xu’s visit would play an important role in promoting exchanges and cooperation in military and defense areas between the two nations.

He said, too, that the visit was of great importance in deepening China-Serbia relations and the friendship between the two countries.

Advancing its strategic partnership with China is one of the important pillars in Serbia’s diplomacy, Cvetkovic said.

With the expansion of cooperation in various areas in recent years, good political relations have also promoted cooperation in economy and trade, which facilitates progress in major cooperative projects, the prime minister said.

Serbia welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in the country and will provide them with favorable environment and preferential policies, he said.

Xu, for his part, said that with a deep traditional friendship, bilateral ties have maintained momentum for sound and stable development. The nations’ strategic partnership forged in 2009, he said, also has added fresh impetus to the advancement of their relations.

China appreciates Serbia’s firm adherence to the one-China policy and its unwavering support for China’s position on issues concerning its core interests, Xu said.

The past few years have seen rapid progress in bilateral military relations, Xu said.

Following an agreement on national defense in 2008, the two sides signed "the minutes of meeting" during his current visit, which added new content to their strategic partnership, Xu said.

China respects Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the social system and path of development it chooses according to its national conditions, he said.

Xu said China also understands and supports Serbia’s drive for participation in Europe’s integration.

The senior Chinese military official arrived here Thursday from Bulgaria for an official visit.

Serbia is the second leg of Xu’s three-nation European tour. He will also visit Croatia.