Visit by Chinese PM to Serbia great event for both countries

BELGRADE - China attaches great significance to the Third Summit of the leaders of China and 16 countries in Central and Eastern Europe and the visit by Prime Minister Li Keqiang to Serbia in Belgrade next week, Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Manchang said Thursday.

The arrival of the Chinese premier in Belgrade is a big event for both China and Serbia. I expect it to be a great opportunity to promote further development of bilateral relations, especially in economic terms, Ambassador Li said in a statement to Tanjug, pointing out that it was the first visit by a Chinese premier to Belgrade in 28 years.

A delegation headed by the Chinese Prime Minister will comprise more than a hundred members, and about 200 businessmen will come to take part in a business forum, said the ambassador.

Given that a lot of companies are coming, it is a great opportunity for Chinese businessmen to have first-hand knowledge of the situation in Serbia, and the effect will be seen after the visit, said the Chinese ambassador.

The slogan of this summit is "new engine, new power, new platform," said Li, stressing that after Warsaw and Bucharest, this third edition of the Summit was for the first time taking place in a country that is not a member of the European Union.

Expectations from the summit are high given that it will be a rare opportunity for so many state leaders to meet in one place in a relatively short period of time, said Li.

The talks that the Chinese premier will have with the 16 prime ministers, as well as talks the prime ministers will have between them will help step up regional cooperation, he said.

In particular between China and Serbia, we expect that we will carry out a project, such as the...