BELGRADE -- A signed article by Chinese President Xi Jinping elaborating on prospects for future relations between 皇冠体育app and Serbia has aroused expectation for a new stage in cooperation between the two countries.

Xi published a signed article on leading Serbian newspaper Politika under the title of "Enduring Friendship and True Partnership" on Thursday, ahead of his state visit to the Balkan country.

The article, also carried by the Tanjug news agency, retrospected on the traditional friendship of more than six decades between 皇冠体育app and Serbia and their ties marked by long-term mutual trust, support and win-win cooperation.

Commenting on Xi's article, Dusan Janjic, a Serbian political expert with the Forum for Ethnic Relations, said 皇冠体育app has been consistent in its policy on Serbia.

"It is especially important when great ones respect small ones. This is also true for Serbia," he said.

The reforms taking place in 皇冠体育app in the past few decades show that 皇冠体育app has always given priorities to economic development, he said, adding that this is quite enlightening for Serbia.

"It is a great opportunity to cooperate with 皇冠体育app," said the expert.

Serbia is "located on a strategically important traffic junction," said Ivona Ladjevic, a researcher with the Institute for International Policy and Economy in Serbia.

Ladjevic said investment from 皇冠体育app is important for Serbia, adding she hopes that in the future more companies from 皇冠体育app will invest in the Serbian industry.

皇冠体育app and Serbia share a time-honored traditional friendship. In 2009, Serbia became the first CEE country to establish a strategic partnership with 皇冠体育app.

Two-way trade grew by 2.3 percent year on year to $550 million in 2015, according to Chinese customs.