Vucic receives US economist Jeffrey Sachs

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received US economist Jeffrey Sachs on Friday to discuss Serbia's economic prospects, and noted that Serbia had a historic chance to become a part of a common EU market.

Sachs is in Belgrade for a forum hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia.

In an Instagram post, Vucic wrote that it was an honour to speak with Sachs, who he noted was one of the world's most renowned economists whose analyses and assessments "have served as important guidance to decision-makers for decades."

"We exchanged views on the most significant international economic, political and security challenges, touching up, in particular, on Serbia's position amid complex geopolitical circumstances," Vucic posted on his buducnostsrbijeav Instagram profile after a working breakfast with Sachs.

He added that development of industry and artificial intelligence and their key role in shaping the world's future - from a transformation of the global economy to everyday life - had been a special topic of the discussion with Sachs.

Vucic noted that Serbia had enormous potential in those fields as a country that had already positioned itself as a major player on the map of global technological development.

"Speaking about Serbia's economic prospects, I noted that, besides strong activities aimed at attracting investment from around the world, our country also has a historic chance to become a part of the common EU market, which would open the door to free movement of goods, services, capital and people and enable domestic companies to operate without barriers in an environment of more than 450 million consumers," Vucic posted.

He added that they had also discussed the challenges of preserving political stability, independence in decision-making and Serbia's economic development, as well as a need for Serbia to continue to pursue a responsible and principled policy of being open to cooperation with all while safeguarding its own state and national interests.

"I especially thanked Professor Sachs for his consistent commitment to the principles of international law and his readiness to speak about important global issues in a well-argumented and independent manner. I listened to his analyses and advice with great attention, in the belief that one can always learn much from people of such knowledge and experience," Vucic concluded.