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Li Xiaolin (2nd L), chairperson of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, shakes hands with Veroljub Arsic, deputy speaker of the Serbian parliament, in Belgrade, Serbia on April 12, 2019. Li Xiaolin arrived here Friday together with a delegation of 18 representatives of Chinese cities and provinces. (Xinhua/Nemanja Cabric)

BELGRADE, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road initiative made the traditional friendship between Serbia and China prosper, not only in economy and trade, but also in science and education, a Serbian government official said at a meeting with Li Xiaolin, Chairperson of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, in Belgrade on Friday.

Speaking at the meeting, Sokovic said that the Belt and Road initiative harvested the potentials of the historical friendship between Serbia and China, which resulted in increased cultural exchange, scientific cooperation, and Chinese language learning in Serbia.

She said that the scientific cooperation which was established with an agreement between Serbia and China in 2009 has since improved immensely, enabling numerous bilateral projects in the different fields of science, such as discovering new pharmaceuticals.

"Our ministry is very satisfied with our cooperation with China in the field of science and education and we hope that the cooperation between our countries will intensify further and bring mutual benefits to all of us," she said.

Li Xiaolin, who arrived here Friday together with a delegation of 18 representatives of Chinese cities and provinces, agreed that the friendly ties between Serbia and China are a good foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation within the Belt and Road initiative in future.

"Our friendly relations are a platform that creates further preconditions for the deepening of cooperation and exchange in different fields, such as culture, economy and industry," Li said.

On the upcoming second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held in Beijing later this month, she said she hoped the Serbian government will achieve even more active economic cooperation and trade exchange within the Belt and Road initiative, which has so far been supported by more than 120 countries worldwide.

The Chinese delegation headed by Li also met with the head of Serbian Parliamentary Friendship Group with China Zarko Obradovic and the deputy speaker of the Serbian parliament Veroljub Arsic.