BELGRADE, May 7. /TASS/. The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Serbia, Sinisa Mali, on the eve of the visit of the Chinese President Xi Jinping, stated that the republic is open to Chinese investments. He expressed his point of view on Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS).
Mali noted that Serbia is important to China as a dominant economy in the Western Balkans, and that during Xi Jinping's visit to Belgrade, one of the main topics of the talks will be Chinese investments in the field of high technology. "It's not about the number of people. Serbia is the dominant economy in the Western Balkans, and if anyone wants to have influence in this part of Europe, they should cooperate with our Serbia. This was decided by China, Mali told RTS, adding that Serbia, from the very beginning of the implementation of China's Belt and Road Initiative, was part of it as a partner.
„Serbia does not have a visa regime with China. Therefore, we are completely open to their investments”, noted the First Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia. He stressed the importance of the economic and political aspects of Xi Jinping's visit. “Economy is a priority for us, because we want Serbia to develop, our salaries to grow, our pensions to increase, from time to time to open new kilometers of highways and high-speed railways. “I believe that Xi Jinping's visit is a great opportunity for Serbia, a great symbol of cooperation with the most populous and economically powerful country and, considering the trend of its growth and development, opens up huge opportunities for us in the coming years, ” ;, Mali concluded.
Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Serbia on May 7-8. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that this visit to Serbia will be the first in 8 years and will be an important milestone in the improvement and renewal of Sino-Serbian relations. Xi Jinping and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic are expected to discuss the international and regional situation, improve the level of Sino-Serbian relations and chart a course for the development of bilateral ties. Local media reports that around 3,400 police officers will provide security for Xi Jinping's visit. It is noted that the Chinese delegation will number about 400 people.
Serbian and Chinese flags are flying around Belgrade and billboards with words of welcome in Serbian and Chinese have been put up. In addition, a huge Chinese flag hangs on the Genex Tower (West Gate of Belgrade), which reaches 119 meters and is located near the highway connecting the international airport and the city center. Earlier, Vucic emphasized that the Chinese president's visit to Belgrade is of great importance for Serbia.