2nd LD: China, Serbia publish blueprint for upgrading partnership

China and Serbia published their blueprint for building a comprehensive strategic partnership here on Saturday as Chinese President Xi Jinping is paying a state visit to the Balkan country.

Xi and Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic signed a joint statement to lift bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership on the basis of their strategic partnership established in 2009.

In the statement, the two countries agreed to elevate their practical cooperation in various fields including aligning development strategies, infrastructure, industrial capacity, investment, finance, culture, education, healthcare, science and technology.

Serbia said it is ready to play an active role in China's Belt and Road Initiative in an effort to seize the opportunity and align their development strategies so as to realize common development and prosperity.

The two sides pledged to continue joint efforts to put the Hungary-Serbia railway into operation as scheduled and work with other Central and Eastern European countries on major regional connectivity projects.

On economy and trade, China and Serbia will further strengthen practical cooperation in such fields as energy, transportation infrastructure, industrial capacity and agriculture.

The two sides also agreed to promote and facilitate two-way trade and investment and provide convenient access for each others' enterprises and products to enter the other country's market.

Settlement in local currency in bilateral trade and investment will be promoted by both countries, a move to further enhance financial cooperation between China and Serbia.

China's central bank signed a currency swap deal worth 1.5 billion yuan (228 million U.S. dollars) with its Serbian counterpart on Friday. The pact, inked with the National Bank of Serbia, will last three years and can be extended if the two sides agree, according to the People's Bank of China.

The two countries will continue to strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. They also look to expand cooperation in new fronts including film and TV production, think tank and media.

Xi arrived in Belgrade on Friday for a historic visit to Serbia as China seeks to carry forward traditional friendship and step up economic engagement with the country. It is the first visit by a Chinese head of state to Serbia in 32 years. Endi