BELGRADE, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Serbian and Chinese officials on Monday pledged to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), green technology and innovation at a conference, signaling a new phase in bilateral ties long centered on infrastructure and industry.

The conference, titled "Serbia and China -- Leap into the Future," was held at Serbia's National Assembly in Belgrade, bringing together lawmakers, diplomats, business leaders, and representatives of Serbia's Innovation Fund and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Serbia to discuss cooperation in digital technologies, research, education and sustainable development.

Marina Ragus, deputy speaker of the National Assembly and chair of the parliamentary friendship group with China, said the partnership is entering a stage driven by technological innovation. "Today we can say that we have transitioned from the phase of mining copper and gold to data mining," she said.

Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming said science, technology and innovation had become "a new opportunity for cooperation between the two countries and their business communities," citing China's advances in AI, computing and green technologies.

China has become one of Serbia's main sources of direct investment, with projects spanning mining, manufacturing, energy and transport infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative. Li said Chinese enterprises had created more than 40,000 jobs in Serbia and now contribute over 20 percent of the country's economic growth.

Yang Dong, president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Serbia, said future cooperation should combine Chinese technological strengths with Serbian engineering talent while upholding high standards of corporate governance.

"Compliance, integrity and transparency are the iron rules for the survival and development of Chinese enterprises in Serbia," Yang said.

Bojan Lalic, director of the Belt and Road Institute in Belgrade, called for expanded academic cooperation and joint training programs, saying education and talent development would be essential to capitalizing on emerging technologies.

Representatives of the Innovation Fund said they were ready to strengthen institutional cooperation with Chinese partners through pilot projects, technology commercialization and new financing models for innovative firms. Both the fund's representatives and Ambassador Li highlighted the Specialised Expo 2027 in Belgrade as a platform to showcase the evolving, tech-focused partnership.

Officials from both sides described the event as part of a broader effort to deepen their strategic partnership by expanding collaboration beyond traditional sectors into emerging technologies and innovation.