In 2015 bilateral trade was worth Us$1.56 billion (€1.38 billion), more than 90 per cent of which was in favour of China.
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“China and Serbia have given each other firm support on issues concerning their core interests, which shows the essence of a strategic relationship”, Li Manchang, the Chinese ambassador to Serbia, told Xinhua.
President Xi Jinping received a medal symbolizing Serbia’s highest award on Saturday during his state visit to the country. He was cheered by flag-waving workers at the plant, recently bought by a Chinese steel giant.
Chinese companies have invested more than $5 billion in CEECs, and the 16 CEECs have invested more than $1.2 billion in China.
Nikolic told Xi during the talks that the Serbian people cherish the honest friendship with the Chinese people and are glad to see the achievements China has made in economic and social development.
It’s the first state visit by Chinese president to Serbia since the country’s independence in 2006.
In this photo provided by the Serbian Presidential Press Service, Chinese President Xi Jinping, center left, and his Serbian counterpart, Tomislav Nikolic, center right, pass by Serbian army Honor Guards upon Xi’s arrival to Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, June 17, 2016.
Specific actions will be taken to boost bilateral cooperation in industrial capacity, finance, infrastructure construction, trade, energy, telecommunications, science and technology, culture and tourism, according to the statement.
As Serbia’s highest award, the honorary medal had only been granted once – to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in 2014 – before it was awarded to Xi.
“I will renew my appeal to President Xi Jinping, asking him to invite investors from China to recognize Serbia”, he added.
Nikolić expressed his confidence of the further of bilateral economic cooperation and stressed that in infrastructure construction, there are still many large projects open for China’s participation.
“Serbia will sign 24 cooperation agreements with China – such a number has never been the case during any world leaders’ visit to our country”, he said.
He added that the cooperation of the two countries at Zelezara Smederevo will be a model not only of Sino-Serbian practical cooperation, but also of global cooperation of China and southeast Europe.
He said Serbia could play a significant role in China’s plan for a new “Silk Road” to boost trade with Europe, Asia and Africa.
On the first day of the visit, Nikolic and Xi will lay the cornerstone for the Chinese cultural centre in Belgrade and unveil a monument to Confucius and plaques with the names of the Confucius Street and the Square of Serbian-Chinese friendship.
President Xi has also met with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.
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On Friday, Xi paid homage to the Chinese martyrs killed in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation bombing of the former Chinese embassy in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in May 1999. He kicked off a state visit to Poland on Sunday and will also visit Uzbekistan, where he will attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
