Beijing, December 16th--Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee met here today with Ivica Dačić, President of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia.

Song said that China and Serbia enjoy a traditional friendship. During his state visit to Serbia this June, President Xi Jinping uplifted bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership with President Tomislav Nikolić, and reached important consensus on further developing bilateral cooperation with him. China thanks Serbia for its consistent and precious support on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns. The Chinese side is willing to work with Serbia to open up a new situation of mutually beneficial cooperation through the "Belt and Road" initiative and the "16+1 cooperation".

Song spoke positively of exchanges between the CPC and the SPS and thanked the contributions made by President Dačić and the SPS led by him to bilateral relationship. Song expressed that the CPC is willing to enhance experience exchanges on party governance and state administration with the SPS, so as to jointly push bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership for constant development.

Dačić noted that Serbia-China relationship is at the best period in history. The SPS will continue to firmly uphold the one-China policy and hopes to deepen inter-party exchanges as well as boost bilateral practical cooperation in various fields.

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