Dacic: We will continue cooperation with China despite inappropriate pressure

BELGRADE - Serbia is China's greatest friend in Europe, Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) leader Ivica Dacic said after meeting with a Communist Party of China delegation in Belgrade on Tuesday.

"In spite of all the inappropriate pressure, we will continue our cooperation with China,"

Dacic said at a press conference at the SPS headquarters, adding that this was in mutual interest. He thanked China for supporting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia, adding that China, too, could count on Serbia's support when it comes to its own sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Citing historical facts, Dacic recalled the Chinese embassy in Belgrade had been one of the targets during the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia.

Speaking about cooperation between the two parties, Dacic said it had been going on for decades and that, within the framework of successful Serbia-China cooperation, inter-party cooperation was growing stronger as well.

"Our two countries are friends, we support each other, we also have an agreement on strategic partnership and the relationship between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is at a high level," Dacic noted.

Qian Hongshan, vice minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the discussions with the SPS delegation had addressed ways of strengthening cooperation in all areas at both inter-government and inter-party level.

"We exchanged views and agreed specific plans for future cooperation between the two parties. The Communist Party of China and the SPS are sister parties and the two states have a steely friendship," he said.

Qian invited the SPS delegation to visit China and noted that Dacic's visit to China in February 2020, following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, was still remembered in the country as a brave decision and a great gesture of support to the people of China.

He said Serbia and China were together protecting international law and noted that he was pleased to see Serbia developing.