Selaković: Serbia is proud of its traditionally friendly ties with Equatorial Guinea

During the meeting, Minister Selaković stated that Serbia was proud of the traditionally friendly ties and cooperation between the two countries and remained firmly committed to their further development.

As regards his successful visit to Equatorial Guinea earlier this year and the fact that Minister Angue visited Belgrade last autumn to mark the anniversary of the first conference of Non-Aligned Countries, Selaković said that the third meeting of foreign ministers in the last eight months has opened a new phase of bilateral relations.

According to him, after this week's visit of the Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, Serbia was ready to host a meeting of the Presidents of the two countries, which would be a great success and an incentive to further strengthen cooperation.

Minister Selaković emphasised that Serbia highly appreciated the principled position of Equatorial Guinea on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija and its consistent support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia.

“Our friendly relations are affirmed in mutual support in international organisations on the most important issues for both countries,” said Selaković.

According to Minister Selaković, the high level and quality of political relations between the two countries was not, however, reflected in the current level of economic cooperation, which needs to be enhanced and diversified. He is of the opinion that, in that context, formation of the Intergovernmental Committee on Economic Cooperation would be important.

As he pointed out, there were potentials and interest of Serbian construction and other companies to renew their presence in Equatorial Guinea, based on positive experience from the time of former SFRY.

Minister Selaković also noted that Serbia was a large producer and exporter of food, with excellent faculties of agriculture and agricultural institutes, and considered there was room for cooperation in the industrialisation of Equatorial Guinea, especially in the field of agriculture and building of food industry.

Minister Selaković expressed Serbia's readiness to increase the number of scholarships for young people from Equatorial Guinea to study in Serbia as part of the “World in Serbia” Programme.