06.09.2019.
Minister Vulin meets General Youxia
Steel friendship between the peoples of Serbia and China
As part of the official five-day visit of the delegation of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Serbia, Defence Minister Alexander Vulin has met with the head of the delegation, Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission, General Zhang Youxia, at the Palace of Serbia, today. The meeting was also attended by Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, General Milan Mojsilović.
The meeting was preceded by a welcoming ceremony in front of the Palace of Serbia, with the ceremonial lineup of the Serbian Armed Forces Guard and the Representative Guard Orchestra intoning the national anthems of the two countries.Minister Vulin and General Youxia discussed future defence cooperation, in line with the established strategic partnership between the Republic of Serbia and the People's Republic of China.
Both sides assess the current bilateral relations as the best in their history and point out that there is a “steel friendship between the two peoples”, which is reflected in the cooperation in the field of defence, which has been developed and is constantly being enhanced.
Minister Vulin emphasised that Serbia highly appreciates China's foreign policy, based on respect for peaceful coexistence and consideration of all factors in international relations, especially thanking for the support for Serbia's territorial integrity and efforts to find a compromise solution for Kosovo and Metohija.
The Republic of Serbia offers strong and principled support to the one-China policy, Minister Vulin emphasised and welcomed the China's One Belt, One Road Initiative, assessing it as a strategic project that contributes peacefully to the integration and development of the economies of all countries.
Minister Vulin congratulated on the significant jubilee – 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, which is to be marked on 1st October this year.
On this occasion, Minister Vulin emphasized that Serbia strives to cooperate equally with its partners in the East and the West, and that, accordingly, the Ministry of Defence will continue to pursue a balanced defence policy and work on improving and developing relations with all states and international organisations, in accordance with its national interests and foreign policy priorities.Minister Vulin thanked for the previous donations made by the People's Republic of China to the Serbian Armed Forces, which have contributed to the strengthening of the operational capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces.
General Youxia emphasized that Serbia is a significant partner of China and that China is commited to further developing of the traditional partnership. He emphasised the heroic defence of the Serbian people during the 78 days of NATO aggression, which was the steel proof of the destruction of international law and order.
General Youxia commended Minister Vulin's address at the past Xiangshan forum that was highly evaluated and widely welcomed. Minister Vulin accepted the invitation to participate in this year's forum as well.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the defence cooperation which is rapidly developing and became the point of growth of the overall bilateral relations, thus deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The meeting also discussed the holding of the first joint bilateral exercise of members of the two armies, which would additionally contribute to the further development of military-to-military cooperation and cooperation in the field of military medicine.
After the meeting between Minister Vulin and General Youxia, a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of the Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine at the MMA was signed. On behalf of the Republic of Serbia, the MoU was signed by Brigadier General Uglješa Jovičić, Head of the Military Health Department, and on behalf of the People's Republic of China - Major General Chen Jingyuan, Director of the Bureau of Health .
The establishment of the Medical Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture is of mutual interest and will be a driver for further enhancement of cooperation in this field.
