China, Serbia vow to deepen strategic partnership

BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic on Monday reached consensus on deepening bilateral strategic partnership.
During their talks held at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing, the two presidents exchanged in-depth views on cooperation. They agreed to continue to support each other on issues of core interests and vital interests, and reinforce exchanges on government, legislature, political parties and local levels.

The two countries also agreed to expand scale of trade and investment, and enhance cooperation on infrastructure construction, agriculture, energy, information industry, automobile industry and science and technology.

The two sides will push forward the establishment of cultural centers in the other country. China will support Serbia to promote the teaching of the Chinese language and the establishment of Confucius institutes. China will participate in the 2014 Belgrade International Book Fair as a country of honor.

Calling Serbia the first strategic partner of China in central and eastern Europe and a good friend of China in Europe, Xi said China appreciates Serbia's adherence to the one-China policy and respect of China's social system and development path.

China respects Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, understands Serbia's reasonable concerns on Kosovo and appreciates Serbia's efforts to seek political resolution of the issue, said Xi.

Nikolic, who is in Beijing for a state visit from Aug. 25 to 29, said the Serbian people feel happy for China's remarkable achievements, and believe that China will realize its goal of revitalization and make a greater contribution to world peace.

He reaffirmed Serbia's firm support of China's efforts on sovereignty and territorial integrity, adding that he hopes to launch a new chapter of Serbia-China relations through his current visit.

During the talks, Xi also said that China attaches great importance to the status of the central and eastern European countries in European development, expressing his hope to lift cooperation with central and eastern European countries so as the push forward the all-round and balanced cooperation between China and Europe.

Nikolic said Serbia will work with China to develop ties between China and central and eastern Europe.

After the talks, the two presidents signed a joint statement on deepening the China-Serbia strategic partnership and witnessed the signing ceremony of an agreement on economic and technological cooperation.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-08/26/c_132664688.htm