China expects Serbia to be its "friend in EU"

China welcomes Serbia's EU integration and expects Serbia to become a full-fledged EU member, thus providing Chian with a new friend in the European Union. This is according to Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Zhang Wanxue, who spoke on Friday. China expects Serbia to be its "friend in EU" At a reception arranged for representatives the Serbian media, the Chinese ambassador said that Serbia's EU membership was not inconsistent with the strengthening of Sino-Serbian relations. These are the processes on two tracks that are strengthening the vital force of Serbia, the ambassador said, adding that the European integration was the choice of Serbia and its people and China respects that. Zhang also recalled the signing of a strategic partnership agreement between Serbia and China in 2009. He expressed the expectation that the construction of the bridge over the Danube in Belgrade and the Chinese loan for the reconstruction of the Kostolac thermal power plant would be followed by new projects and new Chinese investment in Serbia. As an important new area of ??cooperation, Zhang mentioned a project for teaching the Chinese language in primary and secondary schools in Serbia. He signed a relevant agreement with Serbian Minister of Education Zarko Obradovic earlier this week. He stated that the first group of teachers volunteers, who would teach the Chinese language in a total of 31 schools in eight cities in Serbia to about 2,500 students, had already arrived from China. Zhang also spoke about the Eurozone crisis and expressed his belief that the EU would have the wisdom and the ability to resolve it. Last year's trade between China and Europe amounted to USD 567 billion and that is why, Zhang said, the prosperity of Europe is firmly connected with China. Ambassador Zhang Wanxue (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

China expects Serbia to be its "friend in EU"

At a reception arranged for representatives the Serbian media, the Chinese ambassador said that Serbia's EU membership was not inconsistent with the strengthening of Sino-Serbian relations.

These are the processes on two tracks that are strengthening the vital force of Serbia, the ambassador said, adding that the European integration was the choice of Serbia and its people and China respects that.

Zhang also recalled the signing of a strategic partnership agreement between Serbia and China in 2009.

He expressed the expectation that the construction of the bridge over the Danube in Belgrade and the Chinese loan for the reconstruction of the Kostolac thermal power plant would be followed by new projects and new Chinese investment in Serbia.

As an important new area of ??cooperation, Zhang mentioned a project for teaching the Chinese language in primary and secondary schools in Serbia. He signed a relevant agreement with Serbian Minister of Education Žarko Obradović earlier this week.

He stated that the first group of teachers volunteers, who would teach the Chinese language in a total of 31 schools in eight cities in Serbia to about 2,500 students, had already arrived from China.

Zhang also spoke about the Eurozone crisis and expressed his belief that the EU would have the wisdom and the ability to resolve it.

Last year's trade between China and Europe amounted to USD 567 billion and that is why, Zhang said, the prosperity of Europe is firmly connected with China.