Serbia highlights importance of Chinese defence equipment
Chinese medium-range missile system FK-3, the latest weapon received by the Serbian Army, is seen during a demonstration of Serbian Army’s air defence capabilities, “Shield 2022”, at the military airport “Colonel-pilot Milenko Pavlovic” in Batajnica, near Belgrade, Serbia, April 30, 2022. REUTERS/Zorana Jevtic/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights
BEIJING, Oct 23 (Reuters) – Chinese military equipment has strengthened the Serbian armed forces significantly, its deputy prime minister told Chinese state media, in particular an air-defence system and drones.
“Regarding bilateral Serbia-China relations, I would single out military-to-military cooperation, as well as economic cooperation and numerous investments, which are very important for our country,” Milos Vucevic, who is also defence minister, told the state-controlled Global Times in an interview published on Sunday.
Vucevic said efforts to equip and modernise the armed forces were intended for defence.
China’s President Xi Jinping urged stronger strategic coordination with “ironclad friend” Serbia when he met its president, Aleksandar Vucic, in Beijing last week, pledging support for Serbia in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Vucevic said China’s FK-3 medium-range anti-aircraft missile system and its CH-95 and CH-92A UAVs had “undoubtedly” been among the most important defence system Serbia had acquired.