China, Serbia vow to cement ties

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic in Belgrade, Serbia, Dec. 18, 2014. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BELGRADE, Dec. 18 -- China and Serbia on Thursday pledged to cement their strategic partnership by enhancing cooperation in infrastructure.

The pledge was made as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic on the last day of Li's official visit to the European country.

Li said that the relations between China and Serbia, both supporting each other on issues of core and vital interests, have grown to a new level.

The premier said that his visit is aimed at consolidating mutual political trust, which is already at a high level, and advancing bilateral pragmatic cooperation.

Beijing encourages Chinese enterprises to go to Serbia for industrial cooperation, he said, adding that China stands ready to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure construction with Serbia so as to elevate their strategic partnership.

Li said that deepening the China-Serbia relations is conducive to the cooperation between China and Central and Eastern (CEE) countries, as well as the development of China-Europe ties at large. [ China's cooperation with CEE countries, a part of its cooperation with the European Union and Europe as a whole, does help promote the continent's integration process as well as regional and global peace, stability and development, he added.

Nikolic, for his part, said that Serbia and China have a good and solid foundation for deepened cooperation given their traditional friendship, adding that Li's visit will carry the cause forward and forge ahead into the future.

He said that Serbia welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in his country and participate in its infrastructure construction.

Serbia is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with the Chinese side in regional and international affairs, said the president.