Serbia, Uzbekistan establish strategic partnership

BELGRADE, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Serbia and Uzbekistan established a strategic partnership on Tuesday as their presidents signed a joint statement and a series of agreements to expand cooperation in transport, energy, agriculture, and digitalization in Belgrade.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is on a two-day official visit to Serbia, Belgrade, the first by an Uzbek president to the country.

According to the Serbian government, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Mirziyoyev signed the joint statement after their one-on-one meeting and plenary talks at the Palace of Serbia.

The two countries also exchanged 20 bilateral documents on transport, renewable energy, agriculture, digitalization, labor mobility and other areas. They included agreements on road transport and railway infrastructure, as well as cooperation in support of the Middle Corridor.

The two sides also exchanged a joint statement of intent on establishing a working group for possible negotiations on a free trade agreement, according to the Serbian government.

Mirziyoyev said bilateral economic ties were developing dynamically. Vucic said Serbia wanted to move toward a free trade agreement and establish a direct air route between Belgrade and Tashkent.