China signs a free trade agreement with Serbia

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 17 (Xinhua) - On the 17th, it was learned from the Ministry of Commerce that the Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Serbia was signed in Beijing on the same day. This is the first free trade agreement signed between China and Central and Eastern European countries, as well as the 22nd free trade agreement signed by China. Serbia has become China's 29th free trade partner.
The signing of the China Serbia Free Trade Agreement is an important measure to implement the consensus of the leaders of the two countries, and also an important outcome of the third "the Belt and Road" International Cooperation Summit Forum. The negotiations on the China Serbia Free Trade Agreement were initiated in April 2023 and were substantially completed by the end of September. Through the Free Trade Agreement, China and Serbia will achieve a high level of mutual openness, establish new institutional arrangements for bilateral economic and trade cooperation, create a more preferential, convenient, transparent and stable business environment for enterprises of the two countries, and inject new momentum into promoting high-quality joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" and deepening China Serbia comprehensive strategic partnership.
After the agreement is signed, both parties will fulfill their respective domestic procedures to promote the early entry into force and implementation of the agreement.