Chinese president meets with Montenegro president

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday met with President of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic, who was in Nanjing to attend the opening ceremony of the second Summer Youth Olympics.

Xi said though the two countries only established diplomatic ties eight years ago, China-Montenegro relations have developed well.

China has always viewed Montenegro as a trustworthy friend and a good partner in central and eastern Europe, and would like to maintain high-level exchanges with the country and enhance dialogue at all levels to strengthen mutual trust, Xi said.

China will push forward cooperation in areas of transportation infrastructure, energy, and tourism and expand cultural and personnel exchanges to promote cooperation between China and central and eastern European countries, he said.

Vujanovic said the people of Montenegro appreciate China's principle of mutual respect and equality when dealing with international affairs. He said he believes that China's development will contribute to world peace and prosperity.

He called China an important partner of Montenegro, and said Montenegro hopes to enhance high-level and departmental exchanges to advance economic, medical, cultural and educational cooperation.

Vujanovic also welcomes Chinese enterprises to participate in his country's infrastructure projects, including electricity and transportation.

The Youth Olympics, a sporting event for the world's young people aged 14 to 18, was proposed by former IOC President Jacques Rogge. Singapore held the inaugural Youth Olympics in 2010. The second Summer Youth Olympics run from Aug. 16 to Aug. 28 in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province.