On 9 November, the town of Jagodina was honoured for the third time with a friendly visit from the Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kalala Mulamba. The event provided an opportunity for a warm exchange aimed at strengthening the ties between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the fast-growing Serbian town.
During this memorable visit, Ambassador Joseph Kalala was received by Mr Dragan Marković Palma, President of the Municipal Assembly of Jagodina (and former Mayor of the same town). HEM Joseph Kalala enthusiastically praised the impressive development of the town of Jagodina, home to some 36,092 inhabitants according to the 2011 census, and expressed his admiration for initiatives such as free public transport, which benefits the whole community.
As part of the drive to improve links between DR Congo and Serbia, H.E. ambassador Joseph Kalala presented a unique opportunity for economic cooperation between Jagodina, a town in the Pomerania district in the province of Central Serbia, 137 km from Belgrade. And the town of Miabi, a jewel located in the central province of Kasai in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Miabi is the capital of the Territory of the same name, with a population of around 100,000. Although rich in mineral resources and diamonds, the region faces challenges such as a lack of electricity and water.
The visit was marked by a significant political moment for Serbia when H.E. Joseph Kalala reaffirmed that the Democratic Republic of Congo would not recognise the independence of Kosovo and underlined the Democratic Republic of Congo’s continued support for Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. He pointed out that what had happened to Serbia in relation to Kosovo was similar to what was being attempted against the Democratic Republic of Congo in its eastern part.
The President of the Municipal Assembly, Dragan Marković Palma, responded favourably, expressing Jagodina’s desire to strengthen its international relations. He expressed his gratitude to DR Congo for not recognising Kosovo as an independent state and for its continued support for Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. He went on to acknowledge that DR Congo is facing a serious problem in its eastern part, causing the war that has been going on for 25 years. I told His Excellency that the town of Jagodina was willing to cooperate with Congo. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has excellent cooperation with Congo, as does Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacić. Our aim is to see how we can cooperate economically with Congo and what Serbia can export to this great African country,” said Marković.
The press conference was also attended by the current mayor of Jagodina, Ratko Stevanović, and the head of the Pomeranian district, Goran Milosavljević, underlining the importance of this collaboration for both nations. Ambassador Joseph Kalala Mulamba’s visit to Jagodina on 9 November 2023 paved the way for promising cooperation between the Serbian city and DR Congo, highlighting economic opportunities and strengthening diplomatic ties in a spirit of cordiality and friendship.
