Holds talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic

On the morning of May 8th local time, President Xi Jinping held talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the Serbian Building in Belgrade. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Belgrade, May 8th, Xinhua News Agency(Reporter Ni Siyi and Liu Hua) On the morning of May 8th local time, President Xi Jinping held talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the Serbian Building in Belgrade. The two heads of state announced to deepen and enhance the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Serbia, and to build a community with a shared future for China and Serbia in the new era.

Belgrade in May is sunny. In front of the Serbian building, the flags of China and Serbia are fluttering in the wind, and the honor guard is majestic and majestic. When President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan arrived by car, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and his wife Tamara warmly welcomed them at the exit.

On the morning of May 8th local time, President Xi Jinping held talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the Serbian Building in Belgrade. Prior to the meeting, President Aleksandar Vucic held a grand welcome ceremony for President Xi Jinping. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

President Aleksandar Vucic held a grand welcome ceremony for President Xi Jinping. The two heads of state jointly stepped onto the reviewing platform, and the military band played the national anthems of China and Serbia, firing 10 salutes. President Xi Jinping, accompanied by President Aleksandar Vucic, reviewed the honor guard. The two heads of state shook hands with each other's accompanying personnel one by one.

On the morning of May 8th local time, President Xi Jinping held talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the Serbian Building in Belgrade. Prior to the meeting, President Aleksandar Vucic held a grand welcome ceremony for President Xi Jinping.

President Aleksandar Vucic accompanied President Xi Jinping to the platform of the government building. On the square of the building, 15000 Serbian people waved the flags of China and Serbia, expressing their warmest welcome to President Xi Jinping. President Xi Jinping waved to the welcoming crowd. Thunderous applause echoed in the square, and cheers kept coming and going for a long time.

On the morning of May 8th local time, President Xi Jinping held talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the Serbian Building in Belgrade. Before the meeting, President Aleksandar Vucic accompanied President Xi Jinping to the government building platform (left image). On the square of the building, 15000 Serbian people waved the flags of China and Serbia, expressing their warmest welcome to President Xi Jinping (right picture). (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

After the welcome ceremony, the two heads of state held small-scale meetings and large-scale talks respectively.

On the morning of May 8th local time, President Xi Jinping held talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the Serbian Building in Belgrade. This is a small-scale meeting between the two heads of state. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

On the morning of May 8th local time, President Xi Jinping held talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the Serbian Building in Belgrade. This is a large-scale meeting between the two heads of state. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

President Xi Jinping pointed out that I am delighted to visit the beautiful Serbia again after 8 years at the invitation of President Aleksandar Vucic multiple times. President Aleksandar Vucic led several important government officials to the airport to welcome me, especially the grand welcome ceremony just held for me, which deeply moved me and made me deeply feel that the Serbian people are good friends of the Chinese people and have sincere friendly feelings towards China.

President Xi Jinping emphasizes that the steadfast friendship between China and Serbia has withstood the test of international changes and has a profound historical background, a solid political foundation, broad common interests, and a solid foundation of public opinion. In recent years, Mr. President and I have jointly led the bilateral relations to achieve leapfrog development and achieved historic achievements. Especially since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Serbia in 2016, bilateral relations have become more enriched in connotation and continuously expanded in scope, becoming a model of friendly relations between China and European countries. Actions speak louder than words. China is willing to work together with Serbia to continue to sail through storms and share a common destiny, uphold the spirit of iron friendship, adhere to and develop China Serbia friendship, jointly safeguard the fundamental and long-term interests of both countries, pursue the development of their respective countries and national rejuvenation, and work together to promote the construction of a community with a shared future between China and Serbia in the new era.

President Xi Jinping emphasizes that Serbia is China's first comprehensive strategic partner in Central and Eastern Europe. The cooperation between the two sides injects strong impetus into their respective development and revitalization, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries. Under the new situation, Serbia has become the first European country to jointly build a community with a shared future with China, fully reflecting the strategic, special, and high-level nature of China Serbia relations. The new era of a community with a shared future between China and Serbia is the sublimation of China Serbia's steadfast friendship, and also represents the common values and goals of both sides, namely, seeking common development, win-win cooperation, and mutual achievement. This is the common vision of China Serbia and all countries in the world that adhere to independence, independence, peace, and development. The two sides should continue to deepen and expand high-quality co construction of the "Belt and Road" and China CEEC cooperation by building a community of common destiny between China and Serbia in the new era, so as to help their respective modernization processes.

Firstly, highlight the strategic nature of bilateral relations and grasp the overall direction of bilateral relations. China supports Serbia's adherence to independence and development path that is suitable for its own national conditions, and supports Serbia's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Both sides should continue to firmly support each other, deepen strategic cooperation, and safeguard their respective political security and fundamental interests.

Secondly, we must adhere to the practicality of cooperation between the two countries and strive for the well-being of the people of both countries. China Serbia high-quality cooperation in jointly building the "Belt and Road" has yielded gratifying results. Both sides should solidly promote cooperation in traditional fields such as transportation and energy infrastructure, achieve the goal of opening the entire Serbia section of the Hungary Serbia Railway as scheduled, jointly operate major projects of cooperation between the two countries, create more "small and beautiful" livelihood projects, and continuously release positive economic and social benefits. The China Serbia Free Trade Agreement will come into effect on July 1st this year, and the high-level mutual opening up between China and Serbia is bound to enter a new stage. China will continue to expand the import of high-quality agricultural products with Serbian characteristics and is willing to invite 300 Serbian youth to China for learning and exchange in the next three years. Welcome Serbia to open more direct flights from Belgrade to Shanghai and comprehensively deepen cultural exchanges.

Thirdly, promote the innovation of bilateral relations, open up new prospects for cooperation, and build innovative cooperation into a new growth point for bilateral relations. China will support 50 Serbian young scientists to conduct scientific research exchanges and visits in China in the next three years, and is willing to strengthen cooperation with Serbia in the field of artificial intelligence to promote the rational development and application of artificial intelligence for all mankind. We must jointly oppose hegemonism and power politics, oppose group politics and camp confrontation, uphold the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, practice true multilateralism, and promote international fairness and justice.

On the morning of May 8th local time, President Xi Jinping held talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the Serbian Building in Belgrade. After the meeting, the two heads of state jointly signed the Joint Declaration on Deepening and Enhancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and Serbia, and Building a Community with a Shared Future for China and Serbia in the New Era. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

President Aleksandar Vucic extended the warmest welcome to President Xi Jinping, stating that China is Serbia's most sincere friend. Serbia is a small country, but China has always fully respected Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, providing valuable support for Serbia's economic and social development. President Xi Jinping is a great world leader. Under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has achieved remarkable achievements and become a beacon of global development and progress, playing an increasingly important leading role in international affairs. The CPC works not only for the happiness of the Chinese people, but also for the welfare of the people of the world. The Serbian people are grateful and respectful to China, especially President Xi Jinping, and feel sincerely proud and proud to become loyal friends with a great country like China. Serbia firmly supports China's legitimate position on core interests such as Taiwan. There is only one China in the world, and Serbia will continue to unwaveringly support China without hesitation.

President Aleksandar Vucic stated that China's investment and cooperation have greatly promoted Serbia's economic and social development, as well as improved the living standards of the Serbian people. Especially since 2016, with the personal care and support of President Xi Jinping, Hegang Smederevo Steel Plant has achieved tremendous economic and social effects, not only completely changing the fate of the steel plant, but also enhancing the confidence and hope of the people. Serbia's future is closely linked to China. Serbia looks forward to close exchanges with China in various fields and levels, and strengthening cooperation in infrastructure, new energy, innovation, artificial intelligence, and humanities. Actively promote the high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road", complete the construction of the Serbian section of the Hungary Serbia Railway on schedule, welcome more Chinese enterprises to invest and cooperate in Serbia, look forward to opening more direct flights between the two countries, and take the entry into force of the Serbia China Free Trade Agreement as an opportunity to further expand economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Today, we announce that enhancing the comprehensive strategic partnership between Serbia and China and building a community with a shared future in the new era will undoubtedly become a new milestone in the history of Serbia China relations. Serbia firmly supports and will actively participate in the global development initiative, global security initiative, and global civilization initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, closely cooperates with China in multilateral strategic cooperation, jointly opposes hegemonic powers, upholds the purposes of the United Nations Charter, and safeguards international fairness and justice.

After the talks, the two heads of state jointly signed the Joint Statement on Deepening and Upgrading China Serbia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Building a Community of Shared Destiny in a New Era, and jointly witnessed the exchange of multiple bilateral cooperation texts in the fields of jointly building the "Belt and Road", green development, digital economy, e-commerce, infrastructure, economic technology, information and communication, agriculture, food, media and other fields.

The two heads of state also jointly met with journalists.

At noon that day, President Aleksandar Vucic and his wife Tamara held a grand welcome banquet for President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at the Serbia Building.

Cai Qi, Wang Yi, and others attended the above event.