First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic met today in New Delhi with his host, Mrs. Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India.

In the talks, the officials expressed mutual pleasure with the decades-long traditional friendly relations and understanding between the two countries, particularly in the year marking the 70th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Both sides conveyed readiness for the intensification of bilateral high and top-level political dialogue, as well as for the promotion of cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, particularly in the economy. It was noted that there was room for improvement of cooperation in the fields of automotive, tractor, agriculture and food industries, IT sector, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, scientific-technical and cultural cooperation, film, tourism and sports.

Minister Dacic extended an invitation to the Republic of India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to visit the Republic of Serbia, which she accepted with pleasure.

Furthermore, both sides pleased with the signing of the Agreement on Cooperation in the Fields of Culture, Art, Youth, Sports and the Mass Media.

On this occasion, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia conveyed to Minister Swaraj the gratitude of the Serbian Government and people for India's support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia and for its non-recognition of the unilaterally declared independence of "Kosovo", also expressing his belief that India would maintain this position in the future as well.

Minister Sushma Swaraj underlined that India did not perceive countries as big or small, and that it instead only valued if they were friendly or not, emphasizing that Serbia most certainly was a friendly country.