BELGRADE -- Serbia said Saturday that it is ready to play an active role in China's Belt and Road Initiative so as to deepen bilateral cooperation and realize common development and prosperity.

Serbia highly approves and stands ready to actively respond to China's initiative to jointly promote the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, according to a joint statement released during Chinese President Xi Jinping's ongoing state visit to the Balkan country.

On the basis of a memorandum of understanding signed by Serbia and China, Serbia is ready to seize the crucial opportunity brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative to align the development strategies of the two countries, deepen their pragmatic cooperation and realize common development and prosperity, said the statement.