During Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic‘s visit to Moscow on May 9th, a meeting with the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, is scheduled, stated yesterday Nenad Popovic, Minister without Portfolio in the Government of Serbia in charge of international economic cooperation and the social status of the church in the country and abroad.
The Serbian government announced that Popovic emphasized that this meeting would send a strong message of brotherhood and friendship between the two nations, which, he said, have always stood together on the right side in the most difficult moments of history.
“This will further confirm our centuries-old ties and mutual support, which will continue to strengthen through all the challenges ahead,” stressed Popovic, who yesterday spoke with the Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, Maksim Oreshkin, about the development and improvement of economic cooperation between the two countries.
Popovic recalled the strong political and diplomatic cooperation between Serbia and Russia, emphasizing that in the future, they would be dedicated to strengthening economic ties.
The topic of the meeting was the development of cooperation in the fields of agriculture, robotics, energy, infrastructure, mechanical engineering, information and communication technologies, digitalization, innovations, and the application of new technologies.
Popovic, who is also the co-chairman of the Intergovernmental Serbian-Russian Committee for Trade, Economic, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, and Oreshkin agreed to continue working in the coming period on strengthening cooperation in these sectors, which are of key importance for both countries.
The minister particularly pointed out the diversity of trade exchange between Serbia and Russia, which includes energy sources, chemical, food, industrial, and pharmaceutical products.
He emphasized that cooperation with Russia represents a strategic partnership, especially in the gas industry, noting the exceptionally favorable gas supply agreement signed three years ago.
“Thanks to this agreement, the price of gas for Serbian citizens and businesses is the lowest in Europe, and we are working intensively to sign a new agreement under preferential conditions from May this year,” said Popovic, adding that this cooperation guarantees energy security and enables the uninterrupted growth of industry and the economy.
He stated that Serbia follows Russia’s economic successes with great respect and that efforts in the coming period would be directed toward significantly improving trade with the Russian Federation.
Popovic also recalled the importance of the support Russia provides to Serbia on the international level, particularly in, as he said, key issues such as Kosovo and the United Nations (UN)Resolution on Srebrenica.
“Russia has always been and will remain our reliable friend and partner in the most important international issues. Despite enormous pressure, Serbia has firmly refused to impose sanctions on Russia and remains consistent in this stance,” emphasized Popovic.
