New Chinese ambassador presents credentials

New Chinese ambassador presents credentials

The diplomat said that the two countries were helping each other on issues of key interest, and conveyed Beijing's willingness to raise bilateral relations to a higher level.

"Right now, Serbia is going through a very delicate period in its development as we are about to adopt important and complex decisions, and I am confident that we will have China’s support and understanding," Nikolić said at the ceremony at the Palace of Serbia.

The Serbian president said that bilateral relations between Serbia and China were characterized by traditional friendship and strategic partnership, and also mutual trust and sincere support for efforts to deal with the most important issues facing the countries.

Nikolić said that Serbia highly appreciated China’s principled position not to recognize the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo, and it fully supported the One-China policy.

He pointed out that one of Serbia’s key priorities was to ensure a favorable and secure environment for doing business and attracting foreign investment, especially from Chinese investors.

Ambassador Li said that the two countries were bound together by deep, traditional friendship that stood test of time and was only becoming stronger.

Our two countries support each other on issues of key importance and great interest to the other side and work to deepen mutual political trust, the Chinese Ambassador said, speaking in fluent Serbian.

Emphasizing that Serbia is a country of crucial importance in the region of Southeast Europe, Li said that thanks to the efforts of both sides, cooperation on major infrastructure projects, such as the Zemun-Borča bridge, the Kostolac thermal power plant and the E763 highway, was progressing steadily.

China pays great attention to its strategic partnership with Serbia, founded on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and stands ready to raise bilateral relations to a new, higher level, the ambassador said.

Li said that the previous few years had seen Serbia enjoying political stability, making progress in European integration and improving relations with its neighbors.

As a good partner and friend, China welcomes your development and achievements and I sincerely hope that Serbia will maintain the strong development trend and play an even greater role in international and regional relations, the new Chinese ambassador said.

The credentials ceremony was attended by Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić, Presidential Foreign Policy Adviser Ivan Mrkić, and members of the Chinese delegation to Serbia.