Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Bozidar Djelic said today that France is very interested in becoming our strategic partner in the construction of Belgrade subway.

Djelic told the Tanjug news agency said that this was confirmed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy during the recent visit of a Serbian delegation to Paris.

The Deputy Prime Minister, who was in France as part of the delegation, said that Serbian President Boris Tadic said that such cooperation would be a concrete monument to the Serbian-French collaboration.

France has so far secured a €3 million grant for the project documentation for the construction of the metro.

We have made some progress in securing some funds, he also said adding that the next step is the formation of negotiating teams and the start of negotiations about the modes of construction.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that the construction of the first metro line would cost around €1 billion.

He pointed out that key things in the strategic agreement between Serbia and France cover five areas - European integration, defence, university, science and culture and security issues.

Another important thing is the promotion of the French school in Belgrade at the level of high school or lyceum, which will bring new French investments Serbia, said Djelic.