Vucic: I am proud of order awarded to me by Xi, whole Serbia has earned it

BEIJING - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday in Beijing he was honoured and proud to have received China's Order of Friendship from Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier in the day, and noted that whole Serbia had earned it thanks to its courageous and fair stance in today's world.

"A really wonderful, unforgettable moment for me, and I will always will be grateful to the people of China, President Xi and all the people, all my aides, all those who have helped me to merit and earn this order," Vucic said.

Speaking to reporters at the end of the second day of his official visit to China, Vucic said he was happy with the results of his meetings with Xi and that he believed the doors were wide open for a successful continuation of the cooperation.

Xi and Vucic first held a tete-a-tete meeting and then also a meeting in a broader format.

Vucic added that many opportunities had been created for Serbia and for new jobs for Serbians.

"Based on my discussions with President Xi, I believe the doors are wide open to us for a successful continuation of cooperation because, above all, we came here for the sake of the interests of the Serbian citizens, and to do something for them," Vucic said, adding that Serbia was striving to achieve even better and even greater results than it had in the past 12 years.

He said he believed that, at the meetings, results had been achieved in the fields of infrastructure, roads and railways, science and technology parks, data centres and supercomputers.

Vucic: New Chinese investments due in one month at latest, focus on southern Serbia

BEIJING - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday new Chinese investments in Serbia could arrive as early as in a month and that ways to strengthen southern Serbia had been discussed with the Chinese side.

"We have a continuity of good and excellent relations, but there are things that are new. We discussed ways to strengthen the south of Serbia. I asked for engagement from some Chinese companies in the Pcinja District, Vranje and Leskovac. I believe we will soon make the people happy. By saying 'soon', I do not mean in five months, but in one month at the latest," Vucic told Serbian reporters in Beijing.

That also means Serbia is ready to discuss the construction of a modular nuclear reactor, he said.

"As well as ways to raise the level of security and the defence capabilities of the country. We have been cooperating with them (China) to a significant extent and we will continue to. On the other hand, we are starting to discuss high technologies and transfers thereof, and what makes the contemporary world what it is - robotics and artificial intelligence," Vucic said, adding that he had requested that Serbia become a part of the microchip supply chain.

He said future joint work by research institutes represented a quantum leap when it comes to bilateral cooperation.

"Of course, we agreed to hold more frequent consultations on all foreign policy topics. What does that mean? It means that, already this evening, I have learned of many things I cannot hear anywhere else. Of course, (Chinese) President Xi (Jinping) knows much more than I do after visits by (US) President (Donald) Trump, (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin and the PM of Pakistan," Vucic said.

Vucic, who arrived in China on Sunday, will be on an official visit to the country until May 28.