Macut, French senator discuss strengthening of cooperation, especially in science

BELGRADE - Serbian PM Djuro Macut met with French Senator Olivier Cadic on Tuesday to discuss advancement of bilateral relations, with special emphasis on strengthening of cooperation in the field of education and science.

"Macut emphasised the long-standing friendly relations between Serbia and France, which are based on mutual trust and partnership, noting that cooperation can be significantly improved in many areas.

The Prime Minister stressed that the Government of Serbia greatly appreciates the support that Paris provides to Belgrade on its path to European integration, noting Serbia’s determination to continue with reform processes," the Serbian government said in a statement.

"The Prime Minister expressed particular satisfaction with continued cooperation in the field of innovation, which is very important for overall social progress.

He said that economic cooperation is also expanding to new areas, such as the development of new advanced technologies – artificial intelligence and biotechnology, new clean energy sources, including nuclear energy, critical and strategic raw materials, military-technical cooperation, agriculture and the food industry, as well as the EXPO 2027 project," it said.

"The interlocutors reached an agreement that Specialised EXPO 2027 is of exceptional importance not only for Serbia, but also for the whole of Europe.

Cadic expressed satisfaction with the dynamic development of relations between the two countries and reiterated France’s determination to support Serbia on the path of European integration and continue intensive cooperation through joint projects and dialogue in the spirit of partnership and European values," the statement also said.

On Tuesday, Cadic opened a France-Western Balkans business forum, hosted in Belgrade by the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce.