State Counsellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Wang Yi, is on a two-day visit to Serbia. During the first day of the visit, he met with the Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, and the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ivica Dačić.

At the meeting between Prime Minister Ana Brnabić and Minister Wang Yi, bilateral relations between the two countries were discussed, as well as ways and means of deepening and developing them.

On that occasion, Brnabić thanked China for the help that China provided to Serbia during the corona virus pandemic – professional medical assistance, equipment and support in vaccination.

This, the prime minister added, only strengthened the steel friendship between the two countries, which is further deepening with the project of building a factory for the production of vaccines of the Chinese company "Sinopharm".

The prime minister also emphasized the importance of cooperation with the People's Republic of China in the field of infrastructure development and new large investments of Chinese companies in Serbia, despite the fact that the pandemic still continues, noting that the dynamics of most projects is proceeding at an agreed pace, and that some of them end even faster than the deadlines stipulated in the contract.

When it comes to the successful privatization of the Smederevo Ironworks, as well as finding a strategic partner for RTB Bor, Brnabić expressed special gratitude, emphasizing that this saved thousands of jobs.

Serbia also attaches great importance and provides strong support to Chinese President Xi Jinping's global "Belt and Road" initiative and the China-CEEC cooperation mechanism, the Serbian prime minister added.

Our ambition for further development of political, economic and all other relations is great, said Brnabić and congratulated the Chinese side on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party.

State Counsellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Wang Yi, thanked for the congratulations and pointed out that the friendship between the two countries, on an equal basis, is developing for the benefit of both peoples.

He added that China is ready to continue to be a true friend of Serbia, and that is why Belgrade can fully count on any kind of assistance that is needed.

Wang Yi stated that there is still room for cooperation, especially when it comes to trade, and given that he knows how much the prime minister is personally committed to the development of digitalization and innovation, China is fully available to Serbia in that field as well.

In a cordial and friendly conversation between the President of the National Assembly, Ivica Dačić, and the State Counsellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Wang Yi, it was pointed out that relations between Serbia and China are traditionally good and that despite all obstacles in recent years they have reached a completely new level.

The President of the National Assembly, Ivica Dačić, used the opportunity to once again express his great gratitude to China for the help it sent to the people of Serbia during the previous year due to the crisis caused by the corona virus pandemic. The selfless help that China continues to provide is a real proof of the strategic partnership and friendship between our two countries.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Wang Yi, expressed gratitude to his former colleague for the warm welcome and said that his visit today is another confirmation of the friendship between the two countries. He thanked the President of the National Assembly, Dačić, for his contribution to the development of good relations between Serbia and China in his previous functions, especially emphasizing that Ivica Dačić was the first Minister of Foreign Affairs to visit China in February last year at the beginning of the pandemic. At that time, Serbia clearly showed its support and solidarity in a challenging and difficult moment for China.

Dačić expressed gratitude for China's principled support in preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia. He also stressed Serbia's interest in further intensifying political dialogue at the high and highest levels, as well as improving cooperation in various fields.

When it comes to the work of parliaments, the interlocutors stated that bilateral parliamentary relations between the two countries are gaining new momentum today through a comprehensive strategic partnership. The cooperation of the deputies is realized very successfully through the cooperation of the Friendship Groups and through the work of the Commission for Cooperation between the National Assembly and the Chinese National Congress.

Minister Wang Yi conveyed greetings from the Chinese Parliament Speaker Li Zhanshu to the Serbian National Assembly Speaker, Ivica Dačić.

Earlier today, the State Counsellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Wang Yi, was welcomed at the airport "Nikola Tesla" by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Nikola Selaković.

Tomorrow, the head of Chinese diplomacy will have separate meetings with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikola Selaković.