Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica arrived in China on Wednesday for a three-day official visit expected to focus on the future of China-Yugoslav relations and expanding bilateral trade.
Kostunica is due to hold talks with Chinese leaders, including President Jiang Zemin.
He is travelling with Yugoslavia's Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus and Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic as well as a group of some 40 Yugoslav businessmen.
The two countries are eager to boost their economic and political ties during Kostunica's visit.
Along with Russia, China was Belgrade's main trading partner of Yugoslavia.
The trip will include talks on how Belgrade should repay loans from China, including a 320-million-dollar (360-million-euro) loan for crude oil delivered since 1996, and a 100-million-dollar loan to the Yugoslav central bank, both approved during the Milosevic administration when Yugoslavia was facing international sanctions.
The trip is Kostunica's first to China as leader of his country.
(China Daily January 9, 2002)
