Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that China-Serbia relations are poised to embrace a brighter future.
Xi made the remarks while holding talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Prior to their talks, Xi was greeted by thousands of Serbians. Vucic also held a welcome ceremony for Xi.
"I’m glad to pay a state visit to Serbia at the invitation of President Vucic. It's been eight years since I visited beautiful Serbia last time. I would like to thank you and the Serbian government for the gracious hospitality and thoughtful arrangements," said Xi.
"As a Serbian proverb says, 'Mountains do not meet, but people always do.' Similarly, we Chinese say, 'Distance cannot divide true friends who are thousands of miles apart.' Mr. President has warmly invited me many times to visit friendly Serbia, and I am here today as promised. Good friends should meet and communicate more often," said Xi.
"Mr. President is an outstanding statesman with a strategic vision and a sense of historical responsibility. Under your leadership, Serbia has maintained political stability and enjoyed rapid economic growth. Serbian people's standard of living, Serbia's overall national strength and international standing have improved substantially. As a true friend and good partner of Serbia, China is delighted to see this. In the face of a complex external environment, risks and challenges, Serbia adheres to independence, firmly safeguards its national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national dignity, and resolutely upholds international fairness and justice, winning broad respect from the international community," said Xi.
"The China-Serbia ironclad friendship has withstood the test of changing international landscape, and is rooted in a profound historical foundation, a solid political foundation, broad common interests and solid popular support. In recent years, Mr. President and I have met many times to conduct communication and exchange views on strategic and overarching issues concerning China-Serbia relations, and have jointly guided bilateral relations to realize leapfrog development and historic achievements. In particular, since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between our two countries in 2016, the bilateral relations have achieved richer connotations and continuous expansion, becoming a model of friendly relations between China and European countries. During this visit, we will sign a joint statement on deepening and upgrading the China-Serbia comprehensive strategic partnership and building a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era so as to open a new historic chapter in bilateral relations," said Xi.
"Standing at a new historical starting point, a brighter future for China-Serbia relations is unfolding. China will work with Serbia to adhere to the spirit of ironclad friendship, uphold and develop friendly China-Serbia ties, jointly safeguard the fundamental and long-term interests of the two countries, pursue our respective national development and rejuvenation, and jointly advance the building of the China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era, so as to make new and greater contributions to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind," said Xi.
At the invitation of Vucic, Xi is paying a state visit to Serbia, eight years after his last visit to the country.
Serbia is the second leg of Xi's three-nation European tour from May 5 to 10, which also includes France and Hungary.