17.10.2023.
Minister Vučević meets with Vice Chairman of Central Military Commission General Zhang Youxia
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Miloš Vučević today met with the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China, General Zhang Youxia, as part of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, which he is attending as a member of an official delegation of the Republic of Serbia, led by the President of the Republic, Aleksandar Vučić.
Minister Vučević expressed his satisfaction at the opportunity to meet with the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and discuss the details of the defence cooperation, which is developed, intensive and continuously improving. According to him, personal relations between presidents Vučić and Xi Jinping impart special significance to the traditional, steel friendship between Serbia and China.
Minister Vučević thanked China for supporting the preservation of Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and the protection of our national interests, and added that China’s principled and consistent position on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija was proof of true friendship. The Republic of Serbia, he stressed, consistently and sincerely supports the “One China” policy.Serbia pursues an independent foreign policy and despite all pressures, it continues pursuing a responsible policy of peace of stability, Minister Vučević pointed out, adding that Serbia remains committed to the international law and full implementation of agreements reached so far.
Speaking about the defence cooperation between Serbia and China, Minister Vučević highlighted the importance of mutual interest in taking it to an even higher level. The military-technical cooperation, he emphasized, is the most developed segment of the defence cooperation with China and the most concrete progress has been made in this area in the recent period. They also discussed modalities for cooperation in the area of procurement of UAVs and air defence systems, which are an important element of the defence of our country’s airspace. 
The meeting also discussed the importance and possibilities for further advancement of military-to-military cooperation, as well as the cooperation in the domains of military medicine and education.