Europe
12:23, 25-Apr-2019
China, Serbia sign deals under the Belt and Road Initiative
Updated
21:28, 25-Apr-2019
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China and Serbia signed deals under the Belt and Road Initiative on Thursday, as both sides vowed to level up cooperation under the China-proposed mega-project initiative.
The deals were sealed following a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic in Beijing.
Vucic is in China for the three-day second Belt and Road forum that starts on Thursday in the Chinese capital.
Xi said Serbia plays an important role in building the Belt and Road Initiative and the two countries should advance cooperation under the framework and bring more benefits and prosperity to people of both sides.
Vucic voiced firm support to the initiative, as it had brought real benefits to Serbian people.
Projects such as China-funded Smederevo steel factory have strongly boosted the local economy, Vucic said.
The factory was bought by China's largest steel and iron producer, HBIS Group, in 2016. It was founded in 1913 and struggled on the verge of bankruptcy before the purchase.
Vucic said Serbia, as China's loyal friend, will support China on some key issues and concerns.