BELGRADE, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Serbia and China on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under which Serbia will purchase 10 mobile and one stationary customs scanners from China for 30 million U.S. dollars.

Miodrag Djidic, state secretary at the Serbian Finance Ministry, told a press conference that the memorandum was signed as part of a recently concluded agreement during Serbian President Boris Tadic's visit to China in August.

Djidic said the the Export-Import Bank of China is expected to approve a loan to the Serbian government for purchasing the equipment from Beijing-based Nuctech Co., Ltd.

The loan will be repaid in 15 years, with a grace period of five years and a low interest rate, Djidic said, adding that it has been agreed with Nuctech that a regional service center for scanners will be opened in Belgrade.

Serbian Customs Administration Director Predrag Petronijevic said Serbia is the last country in the region to procure such equipment, which will have a positive effect on the budget and will help prevent the smuggling of goods and people.

The equipment is to arrive in Serbia in the first half of 2010,he said.

Fu Qiyuan of Nuctech said the company has so far delivered 400 X-ray systems to 80 countries and regions around the world.