Vucic meets with delegation of China's Hebei province

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met on Wednesday with a delegation of China's Hebei province, headed by Hebei Chinese Communist Party Provincial Committee Secretary Ni Yuefeng, to discuss strengthening the Sino-Serbian strategic partnership and advancement of cooperation in development of green/low-carbon steel and the economy, commerce, logistics and technology.

Vucic invited Chinese companies interested in investing in many other sectors, such as agriculture and infrastructure, to come to invest in Serbia as the cooperation between the two countries to date, based on trust and partnership, had resulted in the implementation of some of the most significant projects that had given a strong boost to Serbia's growth and development.

Vucic noted that Hebei-based steel industry firm HBIS was a pillar of the multifaceted cooperation and one of the main joint Sino-Serbian projects as part of the Belt and Road initiative, the presidential press office said in a statement.

Vucic took the opportunity to again express sincere gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping for his enormous contribution and personal engagement in promoting strong bilateral ties between Serbia and China, which he noted had been confirmed further by last year's signing of a FTA between the two countries.

Vucic said the partnership with Hebei was extremely important for Serbia as part of the cooperation with China as it was one of the country's economically strongest regions with an impressive annual growth rate and enormous investments in development of new technologies and industries.

"The Smederevo steel mill symbolises our country's economic development as it remains a top Serbian exporter despite the complex geopolitical circumstances that have left a mark on all economies in Europe and beyond," Vucic noted, adding that Serbia was impressed with the progress the Chinese industry had made in Hebei, especially when it comes to green hydrogen technology for carbon-free steel production, which he said could bring more new crucial projects for Serbia and the region.