The Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Ivica Dačić, participated on 26 November at the Second Summit of the Prime Ministers of China and countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The delegation of the Republic of Serbia also included Minister of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection Zorana Mihajlović and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Antić.
At the plenary meeting, held at the seat of the Romanian Parliament, the Serbian Prime Minister expressed Serbia’s strong support to this mechanism of cooperation, adding that it is a common interest to create a better cooperation with China and boost interstate relations. He added that regional cooperation and cooperation with China are foreign policy priorities of Serbia.

The Prime Minister thanked China for having established this mechanism of cooperation and for pulling this project ahead with its activity. This project encourages economic and political cooperation among the countries of the region and with China, strengthens understanding and trust, encourages realization of projects in different spheres that are important for everyday life of citizens and raises the living standards and development of each particular country.
The Prime Minister assessed that the announcement of the project of modernization of the railway from Budapest to Belgrade, which will be carried out jointly by Hungary, China and Serbia, represents a confirmation of the success of this joint cooperation, and expressed his hope that other countries in the region will get included in the project. According to him, Serbia has had excellent and friendly relations with China for almost six decades, and with the establishment of a strategic partnership in 2009 the mutual relations have been raised to a higher quality level and a sound basis for further strengthening of cooperation has been created. The Prime Minister referred to the projects that are already underway: the construction of a section of the motorway between Serbia and Montenegro, the construction of a bridge over the River Danube in Belgrade (Zemun-Borca) and the second phase of construction of the Kostolac thermal power plant.

The Prime Minister of Serbia stated that Serbia is willing to share its good experiences in the realization of joint projects with China with other countries of the region. Serbia has the central position in this part of Europe and is on a crossroads of transport, energy, trade and cultural corridors, and it has always been a traditional bridge between the East and West. In addition, two pan-European corridors intersect in Serbia – Corridor 10 and Corridor 7 – the River Danube, which is a huge potential for cooperation.
The Prime Minister underlined that Serbia proposed that the headquarters of a regional association for infrastructure be located in Belgrade, whose task would be the improvement of cooperation between the EU and the countries of the region, and in particular the boosting of relations between China and Serbia and other countries in the region. He concluded his speech by stressing that for Serbia it would be a great honour that the next summit of the prime ministers of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the premier of China be held in Belgrade in 2014.
In parallel with the Summit, the Business Forum also took place. Minister of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection Zorana Mihajlović spoke at this event. The Business forum was also attended by the President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce Željko Sertić.

During his stay in Bucharest, the Prime Minister Ivica Dačić had bilateral meetings with the Prime Ministers of China and Hungary. The central topic of these meetings was the modernization of the railway from Budapest to Belgrade. The three Prime Minister held a joint press conference at which they presented the project.