As the ministers called for further strengthening of economic cooperation, Erjavec expressed satisfaction that bilateral trade had been growing despite the economic and financial crisis.

The Foreign Ministry said in a press release that Serbia was an important investment destination, as it was Slovenia's eleventh biggest trade partner and the second biggest recipient of direct investments from Slovenia in 2012.

Last year, Slovenia exported more than EUR 654m in goods, while importing almost EUR 364m worth of goods from Serbia.

An important part of the talks was aimed at Serbia's efforts to join the EU, as Belgrade expects to get the green light to start negotiations next week. Erjavec noted that Slovenia would actively support the country on its way to Europe and would urge the negotiations to start this year.

Despite the good relations between the countries, Mrkić and Erjavec addressed certain open issues that mostly stem from the former Yugoslavia. The pair said they were determined to find solutions to the problems.

Apart from his host, Erjavec met Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić, Parliamentary Speaker Nebojša Stefanović, Prime Minister Ivica Dačić and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Aleksandar Vučić. Talks mostly focussed on bilateral cooperation in light of the upcoming Serbia's EU talks.

"Slovenian knowledge and experience will be most welcome and appreciated in the process of negotiations, for which Serbia is intensively preparing," Mrkić stressed.

The minister also met Slovenian Archbishop in Belgrade Stanislav Hočevar and thanked him for the support he extended to Slovenians living there.

This was a return visit following Mrkić's visit to Ljubljana in October 2012.