Xi's article raises expectation for further China-Serbia cooperation

Last year, Serbia signed a memorandum of understanding with China to jointly promote the connectivity-based Belt and Road Initiative during the fourth leaders' meeting of China and 16 CEE countries, which was held in Suzhou, China.

The initiative, proposed by Xi in 2013, consists of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It is aimed at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes.

Upon his arrival in Belgrade on Friday, the Chinese president, in a written speech, hailed the mutual political trust and the fruitful cooperation in such fields as energy, transportation infrastructure construction and agriculture over recent years.

Ladjevic appreciated that Xi comes with a big delegation that gathers a significant number of businessmen from both private and state owned companies.

"I expect that we will discuss the issue of investment in agriculture, because Serbia is significant and is very interested in this area," she said.

Ladjevic pointed out that Serbia provides China with an important connection with Europe. "Having in mind the connection that Serbia can offer in the capacity of a country that wishes to join EU -- China, through Serbia, can connect itself with the EU in another way," she said.

Xi arrived in Belgrade Friday for a state visit to Serbia. He will also visit Poland and Uzbekistan, where he is expected to attend the 16th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State.