VIENNA, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern on Thursday left for Serbia on his first official visit, a trip with both political and business nature, local media reported.
Prior to his departure, Kern's chancellery office said he wishes to "expand the good relations between Austria and Serbia", Austria Press Agency reported.
Kern has recently been outspoken on granting Serbia a speedy accession to the European Union, and the Western Balkans nation has been pivotal in stemming the flow of migrants into Europe.
Austria had in January also sent 20 police personnel to Serbia to aid in border protection measures.
Business matters are also a key part of the agenda. Austrian companies have invested 2.3 billion euros (2.5 billion U.S. dollars) in Serbia, making it the largest foreign investor in the country.
