Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic announced on Wednesday that the two countries had decided to deepen and elevate their comprehensive strategic partnership and build a community with a shared future in the new era.
The two heads of state made the announcement during their talks at the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade on Wednesday morning as Xi paid a state visit to the country at the invitation of Vucic.
Prior to the talks, the Chinese president attended a welcome ceremony held by his Serbian counterpart, where Xi reviewed the Serbian guard of honor accompanied by Vucic.
After the welcome ceremony, Xi and Vucic held small-group talks and large-group talks with members of their respective delegations.
Xi said the ironclad China-Serbia friendship has stood the tests of a changing international situation, and enjoys a firm political foundation that boasts a profound history, as well as solid public support with extensive common interests.
In recent years, Xi said he and Vucic have jointly led the leapfrog development of bilateral relations and made historic achievements.
In particular, since the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Serbia was established in 2016, bilateral relations have grown richer in connotation, and continuously expanded in scope, becoming a model of friendly relations between China and European countries, Xi said.
Actions speak louder than words, Xi noted. He said the Chinese side is willing to work with Serbia to continue to stand together through thick and thin, share a common future, and uphold the spirit of the two countries' ironclad friendship.
China is also ready to join Serbia to maintain and develop the amity of the two countries, jointly safeguard the fundamental and long-term interests of both sides, pursue the development and rejuvenation of their own countries, and jointly advance the building of a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era, Xi said.
Xi stressed that Serbia is China's first comprehensive strategic partner in Central and Eastern Europe. Cooperation between the two sides has injected strong impetus into the two countries' respective development and revitalization, delivering tangible benefits to the two peoples, he said.
Under the new circumstances, Serbia has become the first European country to build a community with a shared future with China, which fully demonstrates the strategic, special and high-level nature of the bilateral relationship, Xi said.
The building of the China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era is an elevation of the two countries' ironclad friendship, and it also represents the shared values and goals of both sides, namely, seeking common development, achieving win-win cooperation and pursuing common progress, which is the shared vision of both countries and and nations worldwide that uphold independence and strive for peace and development, Xi said.
Xi said that the two sides should deepen and expand high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries by building a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era, thereby advancing the modernization of their respective nations.
Xi called on both sides to underscore the strategic significance of the bilateral ties, and grasp the overarching direction of the relationship. China supports Serbia in upholding independence and pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, and also supports Serbia's efforts to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Xi said.
The two sides should continue to firmly support each other, deepen strategic cooperation, and safeguard their respective political security and fundamental interests, Xi added.
Xi also urged the two countries to adhere to the practical nature of bilateral cooperation and bring benefits to the two peoples. High-quality Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries has yielded fruitful results, he noted.
Both sides, Xi said, should steadily promote cooperation in traditional areas like transportation and energy infrastructure, such as ensuring the timely completion of the Serbian section of the Belgrade-Budapest railway, jointly managing major cooperation projects, and creating more "small yet smart" projects for public well-being, so as to continue to deliver positive economic and social benefits.
The China-Serbia Free Trade Agreement will come into effect on July 1 this year, Xi noted, saying that the high-level mutual opening-up between China and Serbia will surely enter a new stage. China will continue to import more high-quality agricultural products with Serbian features, and is ready to invite 300 young Serbian people to China for studies and exchanges over the next three years, Xi said.
China welcomes Serbia to increase direct flights between Belgrade and Shanghai, Xi said, noting Serbia is welcome to deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges in an all-round way.
President Xi called on both sides to carry forward the innovative nature of bilateral relations, open up new prospects for cooperation, and make innovative cooperation a new growth point of bilateral ties.
In the next three years, Xi said China will support 50 young Serbian scientists to carry out research exchange visits to China, and said the country is willing to strengthen cooperation with Serbia in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector so as to promote the rational development and application of AI for all humanity.
Xi called on the two countries to jointly oppose hegemonism and power politics, as well as bloc politics and camp confrontation, uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, practice genuine multilateralism, and promote international fairness and justice.
For his part, Vucic said China is Serbia's most sincere friend and has been providing valuable support for the country's economic and social development.
Vucic said that Serbia firmly supports China's legitimate position on issues concerning its core interests including on Taiwan. There is but one China in the world, and Serbia will, without hesitation, continue to unswervingly provide China with firm support, said Vucic.
China's investments and cooperation with Serbia have greatly facilitated the latter's economic and social development and has greatly improved Serbian people's living standards, Vucic said.
Since 2016, thanks to the personal commitment and support by President Xi, the HBIS Smederevo steel plant has had immensely positive socioeconomic impacts, said Vucic, noting the transformative changes that had taken place in the steel plant's development prospects have also boosted confidence and raised the hopes of the people.
Noting Serbia's future is closely linked with China, Vucic said Serbia looks forward to intensifying exchanges in all areas and at all levels, and to strengthening cooperation with China in various fields including infrastructure, new energy, innovation, artificial intelligence and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
Serbia will actively advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with China, and work to ensure that the Serbian section of the Belgrade-Budapest railway will be completed as planned, Vucic said, noting Serbia welcomes investment cooperation from more Chinese businesses and looks forward to opening more direct flights. Building on the entry-into-force of the bilateral Free Trade Agreement, Serbia is ready to expand economic and trade cooperation with China, Vucic added.
The announcement on deepening and elevating the comprehensive strategic partnership and building a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era marks a new milestone in the history of the bilateral relationship, said Vucic, noting that Serbia firmly supports and will actively participate in the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative put forward by President Xi.
Serbia will stay in close multilateral strategic coordination with China, jointly oppose hegemonism and power politics, uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and defend international fairness and justice, said Vucic.
After their talks, the two presidents signed the Joint Statement on Deepening and Elevating the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Building a China-Serbia Community with a Shared Future in the New Era.
They also witnessed the exchange of multiple cooperation documents including on Belt and Road cooperation, green development, digital economy, e-commerce, infrastructure, economic and technical cooperation, information and communication, agri-food, and the media.
The two heads of state also jointly met the press.
At noon on Wednesday, President Vucic and wife Tamara hosted a grand welcome banquet in honor of President Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan, also held at the Palace of Serbia.
Xi arrived in Belgrade late on Tuesday, with this being the president's second visit to the eastern European country in eight years.
Serbia is the second leg of Xi's ongoing three-nation European tour. He wrapped up a three-day state visit to France on Tuesday and will later visit Hungary after concluding his stay in Serbia.
China, Serbia deepen partnership, announce building of community with shared future
China, Serbia deepen partnership, announce building of community with shared future
China, Serbia deepen partnership, announce building of community with shared future
China, Serbia deepen partnership, announce building of community with shared future
