Murmu delighted to visit Serbia on her first trip to Europe

BELGRADE - Indian President Draupadi Murmu said on Thursday in Belgrade she was delighted Serbia was the first European country she had visited since taking office in July 2022.

She was speaking at a joint press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

Thanking Vucic and Serbia for the hospitality, Murmu noted that Vucic's 2017 visit to India had laid the groundwork for an expansion of a bilateral partnership between the two countries.

She said India's relations with Serbia were based on mutual trust and that her country remained committed to inject more energy into vital ambitions.

Murmu added that she had had a constructive and productive meeting with Vucic about all important aspects of the bilateral relations as well as global and regional affairs.

She said the two sides were determined to build the relations further and work on an expansion of technology and on strengthening ties between people.

She noted that an agreement had been made to strengthen cooperation in the UN and other multilateral forums.

She said Serbia was a traditional friend of India and that she wanted the two countries to cooperate in the IT sector, health care, energy and agriculture.

Murmu said they had also discussed direct flights between Belgrade and New Delhi, and added that frequent exchanges of visits were the best way to strengthen the partnership.