Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse ahead of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45).

Both China and Serbia were in the battlefields of the world's anti-Fascism war, and both countries have fought for national independence and people's freedom, Li said.

China is willing to enhance mutual political trust, deepen cooperation in areas including economics, trade and manufacture, and promoting the strategic partner relationship between the countries, he added.

Li said the mechanism of China–Central and Eastern European Countries (16+1) has become an important platform to boost friendship and enhance cooperation.

As a symbolic cooperative project, the Hungary-Serbia railway will promote the connection between the countries along its route. China is willing to work with Hungarian and Serbian authorities to make substantial progress on the project, Li said.

China will hold "16+1" talks this year and Chinese authorities will make joint efforts with countries including Serbia to make the talks fruitful, said he added.

Nikolic said friendship between Serbia and China has been enhanced and Serbia would like to learn the development experiences of China.

He welcomed Chinese companies to participate in the infrastructure construction of Serbia and make joint efforts to enhance cooperation.

Serbia supports China hosting the "16+1" summit this year and expects it to be successful.

State Councilor Yang Jing also attended the meeting.