China, Serbia to explore new areas for cooperation

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), meets with Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic in Belgrade, Serbia, July 17, 2017. [Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng]

China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang and Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic have expressed willingness to enhance bilateral cooperation and underlined the need to explore potential areas for further cooperation.

During his meeting with Brnabic, Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), said the two economies are highly complementary and there are many cases of successful cooperation.

China is willing to work jointly with the Central and Eastern European(CEE) countries, including Serbia, to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the CEE-China cooperative mechanism so as to realize common development, Zhang said.

For her part, Brnabic said the results of Serbia-China cooperation are inspiring and the bilateral cooperation bears great significance for the development of Serbia's economy and the improvement of people's livelihood.

The Serbian government will earnestly implement existing cooperative projects, actively explore new areas for cooperation and better play the role as a bridge between China and CEE countries, the prime minister said.

Zhang arrived in Belgrade on July 16 for an official friendly visit to Serbia. During his three-day visit, he also met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Parliament Speaker Maja Gojkovic.