Serbia and China have formalised their economic ties in Beijing by signing four pivotal documents, the most notable being the Free Trade Agreement. This deal will encompass 10,412 Serbian and 8,930 Chinese products, as announced by the Serbian government.
The Free Trade Agreement was inked by Serbia’s Minister for Domestic and Foreign Trade, Tomislav Momirović, and China’s Trade Minister, Wang Wentao. The signing was witnessed by Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić and China’s President Xi Jinping.
Additionally, the two countries also penned a Memorandum on Exchange and Cooperation in Economic Development Policy, a Memorandum on the Enhancement of Industrial and Investment Cooperation between Serbia and the People’s Republic of China, and a mid-term action plan on joint construction under China’s “Belt and Road” initiative.
The Memorandum on Exchange and Cooperation in Economic Development Policy was signed by Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Siniša Mali, and the Chairman of China’s National Reform and Development Commission, Zheng Shaodjie.
The signing ceremony, attended by both presidents, also saw the presence of key Serbian government officials including Deputy Prime Ministers Ivica Dačić, Miloš Vučević, Maja Gojković, Infrastructure Minister Goran Vesić, Interior Minister Bratislav Gašić, and Serbian Ambassador to China, Maja Stefanović.
President Vučić, leading the Serbian delegation, participated in the third “Belt and Road” International Cooperation Forum, which convened leaders from over 100 countries, including Vladimir Putin.
During his visit, Vučić met with President Xi, expressing his sentiments on Instagram, “I’m profoundly honoured and privileged to be in Beijing today. Accompanied by the Serbian ministers, our presence speaks to the respect and significance of this occasion. In all sectors where we collaborate, we’re seeing progress. The Belt and Road initiative has been beneficial for our nation. I’m proud of our camaraderie and the milestones we’ve achieved. The Free Trade Agreement, which we’re signing today, heralds new horizons in our bilateral ties.” He further added, “Thank you, President Xi, for your personal dedication to strengthening the bonds between our nations and peoples.”
Photo: Tanjug/Vlada Srbije