Italy supports Serbia's EU accession and development: PM

BELGRADE, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Italy sees Serbia as a country of priority for the prosperity of the Balkans and will support its aspirations to become a member of the EUropean Union (EU), Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told Serbian officials during his visit here on Wednesday.

Conte arrived Wednesday for a one-day visit during which he met his counterpart Ana Brnabic and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

According to the press release of the Serbian government, Conte said the aim of his first visit to a regional country since he took over mandate as prime minister is to confirm the friendly bilateral ties in a year that marks the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Conte and Brnabic expressed satisfaction with the development of the overall trade, whose value exceeded 4 billion EUros last year, and that around 600 Italian companies employ around 26,000 people here.

Brnabic expressed her hope that the economic cooperation of the two countries, which is the most developed segment of the overall relations, will continue to improve in the future.

She thanked Italy for the support in EUropean integration, as well as its efforts to maintain stability, security and prosperity in the Balkans.

Serbia and Italy established a strategic partnership 10 years ago. Italy is the number one export market for Serbia, and second when it comes to import, Brnabic added.

During his meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Conte said Italy wishes to support "security, economic growth and social development" of Serbia.

"I wish to confirm that Italy sees Serbia as a priority, and that it is important for the stability and EUropean perspective of the whole region," Conte said, adding that Italy will promote the EUropean integration of Serbia.