Russian President Vladimir Putin has started his all-day official visit to Serbia, where he is hosted by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

Vucic welcomed Putin at Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport, and the two presidents then took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Cemetery of the Liberators of Belgrade and at the Monument to the Red Army Soldier in the Serbian capital.

Putin was then given the official red-carpet welcome in front of the Palace of Serbia in New Belgrade.

"I wish to thank you sincerely for investing a lot of energy, effort, work, time, respect, and love in the progress and development of Serbian-Russian relations. Thank you also for supporting Serbia's independence, for respecting her integrity. I think that Russia could always count on having an ally in Serbia," Vucic said.

Putin responded by thanking citizens of Belgrade and Serbia for their warm welcome.

"I am very happy to have the opportunity to visit the friendly and brotherly Serbia, and to discuss everything we have done, and the things we need to do," the Russian President said.

The two presidents will first hold a face-to-face meeting, followed by a plenary session between the delegations of the two countries. Vucic and Putin will later attend a ceremony to exchange numerous bilateral agreements that will be signed in Belgrade today.

The Russian president will then present his Serbian counterpart with the Order of Alexander Nevsky, after which they will address the press.

According to announcements, Vucic and Putin will in the afternoon visit the Serbian Orthodox Temple of St. Sava.

See at: https://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2019&mm=01&dd=17&nav_id=106005