ANKARA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday pledged to strengthen economic ties between the two countries, following talks in Ankara.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Erdogan said bilateral trade reached 3.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2025 and was moving toward a target of 5 billion dollars.
He highlighted the rapid expansion of Turkish investments in Serbia, noting that the number of Turkish-capital companies in Serbia has surged from around 100 in 2015 to more than 1,500, with total investments hitting 300 million dollars.
Tourism ties are also strengthening, Erdogan said, with Türkiye now the second most popular destination for Serbian tourists and Turkish citizens ranking first among foreign visitors to Serbia.
The two leaders discussed steps to support development in Serbia's southwestern region of Sandzak, which Türkiye sees as a bridge of friendship between the two nations, Erdogan added.
Vucic described the talks as open and constructive, emphasizing mutual respect despite the disparity in size.
"Serbia is much smaller than Türkiye. We know we cannot be Türkiye's most important partner. But Türkiye is an extremely important partner for Serbia," he said.
Vucic said Turkish investments in Serbia, particularly in lower-income regions, are creating jobs and economic opportunities. He added that Turkish companies have won tenders for major infrastructure projects, including the Belgrade-Nis railway project, which is expected to boost regional transport and tourism.
