Kuburović: Advancing Judicial Cooperation between Serbia and China

Today, Justice Minister Nela Kuburović received the delegation of judges of the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China, headed by the Court President Mr Zhou Qiang. The interlocutors discussed judicial cooperation between the two countries, including future activities to help expand and advance that cooperation.

Ms Kuburović and Mr Qiang concurred that the judicial cooperation between Serbia and China had followed the development of relations between the two countries which were excellent and extremely friendly. They noted, however, that there was room for improvement. They emphasised that international legal cooperation between Serbia and China was currently based on international conventions and that such cooperation is good, but that it should be further enhanced through bilateral agreements on international legal assistance in criminal and civil matters.

Ms Kuburović stated that establishing even closer relations in the field of justice and signing bilateral agreements would further strengthen legal certainty, which was of great importance for economic cooperation and a good investment environment, taking into account that more and more Chinese investments were being in Serbia.

Ms Kuburović added that the visit of judges of the Supreme People's Court of China to Belgrade, during which they spoke with representatives of the Supreme Court of Cassation, the High Court, the Judicial Academy, the University of Belgrade Law Faculty, was another testament of the good cooperation between the two countries and the friendly relations between President Aleksandar Vučić and President Xi Jinping.

Mr Qiang said that the Supreme People's Court of China had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Serbia’s Supreme Court of Cassation, which would further advance judicial cooperation between Serbia and China. He recalled that during the Chinese President's visit to Serbia in 2016, a comprehensive strategic partnership was established between the two countries, which was the basis for advancing cooperation in all areas.

Ms Kuburović and Mr Qiang expressed their satisfaction with China and Serbia signing the United Nations United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation in early August in Singapore.