Full coverage: President Xi Visits 3 Nations, Attends SCO Summit
Earlier, President Xi Jinping wrapped up his 3-day visit to Serbia. During his visit, the two countries agreed to lift bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic attend a signing ceremony for a joint statement to lift bilateral relationship of China and Serbia to comprehensive strategic partnership after they held talks in Belgrade, Serbia, June 18, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
A new level of bilateral ties. China and Serbia have agreed to lift bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. President Xi delivered a speech at Serbia's century-old steel plant Smederevo during his state visit to the country. The steel mill was bought by a Chinese company earlier this year, signifying the first capacity cooperation project in the Balkan peninsula.
"Now cooperation and exchanges between China and Serbia are being strengthened. There is an unprecedented opportunity for the development of bilateral relations. My visit to Serbia at the invitation of President Nikolic aims to further enhance our traditional friendship. We will also push forward the mutually beneficial cooperation to benefit the two peoples, and bring our bilateral relationship to a new high," Xi said.
President Xi also met with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic. The two sides pledged to strengthen practical cooperation in fields including energy, transportation infrastructure, industrial capacity and agriculture.
"These fruits of cooperation will certainly boost the China-Serbia relationship, enrich the content of the comprehensive strategic partnership and bring greater benefit to the people of both countries," Xi said.
President Xi has also met with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic. The two leaders agreed to step up bilateral cooperation. And President Xi also met with the Speaker of the National Assembly Maja Gojkovic. They agreed there should be more communication and cooperation between the two countries' lawmaking bodies.
