Serbia, Turkiye sign agreements to strengthen economic, defense ties

BELGRADE, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Serbia and Turkiye signed a series of agreements on Friday, aimed at expanding cooperation in both the economic and defense sectors during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's official visit to Serbia.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with Erdogan and they discussed key areas of collaboration, including trade, investment, and joint ventures in defense. The two leaders oversaw the signing of 11 agreements, covering a wide range of areas such as free trade, energy transition, youth cooperation, and disaster management.

Vucic highlighted the importance of Turkish investments for Serbia's economic development, especially in infrastructure, energy, and trade.

Erdogan described the current state of relations between Serbia and Turkiye as a "golden age," citing the significant growth in economic ties. "We see great potential for further collaboration, particularly in defense and aerospace," Erdogan added.

The two presidents also agreed to strengthen defense industry cooperation, with a focus on drone technology and joint technological development.

Addressing the Serbia-Turkiye Business Forum, both leaders emphasized the importance of deepening commercial ties. "This is just the beginning. Serbia is on a path of economic growth, and together with Turkiye, we can achieve even more," said Vucic.