The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Djenovic, received a delegation of the armed forces of the People’s Republic of China, headed by Lieutenant-General Jing Zhiyuan, commander of the strategic corps and member of the Chinese Central Military Commission.

The meeting focused on topics relevant to the development and deepening of all levels of cooperation between the two traditionally friendly countries.

Lieutenant-General Zhiyuan conveyed the greetings of the Chinese Congress Chairman to the National Assembly Speaker, stressing the importance of the two countries’ cooperation in the fields of economy, education, culture, and its expansion onto military matters. He stated that China considers Serbia its most reliable partner in the region, which is why the development of cooperation on all levels is of mutual interest for both Serbia and China, as well as the whole region.

The National Assembly Speaker was grateful for China’s principled support of Serbia’s political position regarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its support of the initiative to have the issue of Kosovo-Metohija status transferred from the political to the sphere of international law. The Speaker stated that the National Assembly is prepared to strengthen cooperation with the Congress, pointing out that the National Assembly had formed a friendship group with China, which is only one possible manner of cooperation between the two countries’ parliamentarians.

The delegation of the armed forces of the People’s Republic of China, headed by Lieutenant General Zhiyuan, is in official visit to the Republic of Serbia under the 2009 Plan of bilateral military cooperation.