Gojkovic thanked the Chinese delegation for taking part in the 141st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Belgrade, stressing that the political relations between Serbia and the People’s Republic of China at the level of strategic friendship are the best in the history of relations so far, a veritable “steel friendship”.

Gojkovic said that the signing of the joint statement on comprehensive strategic partnership opened up a new chapter in the traditionally good relations between the two countries and contributed to the strengthening of the Serbia-China partnership and further development of cooperation.

Gojkovic said that the two countries share a high degree of mutual trust and support in matters of importance, stressing that Serbia supports the One-China policy and China’s side in the issue of Taiwan and Tibet.

Gojkovic thanked China for its principled position on Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty viz. the Kosovo-Metohija issue, stressing that Serbia greatly appreciates the continued support on the international scene.

Vice Chairman of the Chinese National People´s Congress Hao Mingjin conveyed the greetings of the Chairman of the Chinese National People´s Congress Li Zhanshu and extended congratulations on the good organization of the 141st IPU Assembly, saying that Belgrade is the centre of the diplomatic stage for global parliamentary cooperation in the whole world.

He thanked the Serbian Assembly Speaker for her contributions to the advancement of parliamentary cooperation between the two countries, stressing that the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Serbia share a traditional friendship.

The Vice Chairman of the Chinese National People´s Congress reminded the host of the words of Chinese President Xi Jinping that Serbia is a firm friend to China opining that the mutual support of the two presidents helps further the comprehensive strategic partnership and achieve significant results in the realms of economic cooperation and culture. He said that the Serbian cultural centre in Beijing and Chinese cultural centre in Belgrade will contribute to the development of relations, adding that the noticed a significant increase in the number of Chinese tourists in Serbia.

Hao Mingjin said that President Aleksandar Vucic’s attendance of the Belt and Road gathering in Beijing in April opened new perspectives for cooperation, hoping that the two countries would continue to develop relations and that the volume and quality of cooperation would be raised to an even higher level.

Hao Mingjin said that interparliamentary cooperation is an important segment of the two countries’ relations which the Chinese National People´s Congress is ready to continue advancing which is why it is important to continue with the frequent meetings between the parliament speakers and the intensive cooperation between the committees and parliamentary friendship groups and to strengthen cooperation on the multilateral scene.

Gojkovic agreed that the overall interparliamentary cooperation in the previous period was extremely good, friendly, unswerving and in line with good bilateral relations, which have reached a historic high. The Serbian Assembly Speaker also agreed that it is important to continue developing cooperation through intensive contacts at the highest parliamentary level, as well as at the level of committees and parliamentary friendship groups, and expressed hope for a return visit by the Chairman of the Chinese National People´s Congress to Serbia.

The officials also stressed that the two parliaments’ exceptionally good relations and cooperation are affirmed by the Memorandum of Understanding between the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China and the Protocol establishing a joint Commission, as well as the joint parliamentary body’s regular sessions.

The meeting was also attended by Serbian Assembly Deputy Speaker Veroljub Arsic, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Prof. Dr Zarko Obradovic, Head of the Serbian Assembly delegation to the 141st IPU Assembly Dr Vladimir Orlic and MP Dragomir Karic.