Summit of China, Central and Eastern Europe in Belgrade

BELGRADE - High-ranking officials of Serbia, China and 15 more countries will be brought together in Belgrade on December 16-17 for the third summit of leaders of Central and Eastern European countries and China.

An economic forum of the participating countries will be held on the sidelines of the summit, reads a statement on the Serbian government's website.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic stated mid-September that he had telephone conversations with the prime ministers of 15 countries of Central and Eastern European countries, and that almost all of them confirmed their participation in the Belgrade Summit, where China will be presented by Prime Minister Li Keqiang.

Ahead of the Summit, Li will have bilateral meetings with Serbian officials, the Serbian government's press office released in a statement.

This will be the first visit by the Chinese prime minister to Serbia after nearly three decades, and it will focus on promotion of the relations between the two countries, which already have a traditional friendship and strategic partnership, the statement reads.

Aside from Li, the attendance was also confirmed by, the prime ministers of Slovenia, Albania and Estonia, Miro Cerar, Edi Rama and Taavi Roivas respectively, and all other prime ministers are also expected to partake in the Summit aside from Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic, who will be replaced by the Croatian deputy prime minister and the minister of maritime affairs.

Milanovic said that he will not attend the Belgrade Summit due to the temporary release of Serbian Radical Party leader Vojislav Seselj from the ICTY.

Belgrade will host the third summit of leaders of Central and Eastern European countries and...