Vucic: Bilateral ties strong, economic to be strengthened

BELGRADE - Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic met on Monday with Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird and noted that the two countries have excellent relations but that economic cooperation needs to be developed further.

The prime minister pointed to the significance of the 2012 agreement on strategic economic cooperation, based on which several projects were launched by Canadian companies in Serbia, mainly in the energy sector.

The signing of the foreign investment protection and promotion agreement will additionally promote the economic cooperation between the two countries and encourage new investment by Canadian companies, the Serbian government Office for Cooperation with the Media said in a release.

Prime Minister Vucic informed the Canadian minister about the economic reforms and measures to be implemented by the Serbian government, and about Serbia's progress in the EU integration process.

Vucic thanked Canada for the aid it provided to Serbia after the floods that swept across the country in May.

Canada's Foreign Minister said that the two countries' relations should be promoted at the highest political and economic levels, and added that Canada understands Serbia's foreign policy regarding the EU and Russia, particularly in the context of the Ukrainian crisis.

On his visit to Serbia, Baird also visited the flood-affected areas and announced the possibility of sending a new shipment of relief aid.

Photo Tanjug, R. Prelic