Minister of Education and Science Zarko Obradovic and Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Zhang Wanxue signed Wednesday a Memorandum of Cooperation, on the occasion of launching the project dubbed 'Learning Chinese in Elementary and High Schools of Serbia', by which a total of 2,462 pupils will start learning Chinese as of tomorrow.

The pilot project will last until the end of the year and if it proves to be successful, Chinese could be introduced as an optional subject in schools, Obradovic said after signing the document.

Zhang stated on the occasion that 14 teachers from China will hold the classes in Serbia, and added that the number of China's friends in Serbia who show interest in learning about the country's culture is increasing.

He pointed out that the cultural exchange between the two countries has a long history and added that there is plenty of room for its further development.Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, who also attended the signing of the document, told the citizens to learn Chinese, because they will need it.

Jeremic, who is the chairman of the Inter-state Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation between Serbia and China, said that China is today the key factor in the world piece and economy and that it increasingly affects global political and economic developments.

Saying that Serbia is China's only strategic partner in this part of the world, the foreign minister stressed that the partnership will produce more obvious results in the future.