Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping was warmly welcomed in Serbia by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Serbian people when paying a state visit to the Balkan country from Tuesday to Wednesday local time, with the ironclad friendship between the two countries on full display.
Late on Tuesday, the plane carrying Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan touched down in the capital city of Belgrade, marking that the Chinese president started his second visit to Serbia in eight years.
Serbian Air Force sent two fighter jets to escort Xi's plane after it entered the country's airspace. Xi and Peng were warmly received by Vucic and his wife, Tamara Vucic, at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport.
Serbian children presented flowers to Xi and Peng, and waved the national flags of China and Serbia. Serbian people dressed in national costumes sang and danced to welcome them.
When Xi's motorcade was en route to the hotel from the airport, local residents lined the streets to welcome him. The welcoming crowd, beside a large banner reading "Warmly welcome President Xi Jinping and Professor Peng Liyuan to visit Serbia," waved Chinese and Serbian national flags and cheered along the streets.
On Wednesday morning local time, Vucic held a welcome ceremony for Xi. During the grand ceremony, a military band played the Chinese and Serbian national anthems, and a 10-gun salute was fired. The two heads of state reviewed the guard of honor and shook hands with each other's accompanying officials.
Xi was accompanied by Vucic to the platform of the Palace of Serbia. In the square in front of the Palace, some 15,000 Serbian people were waving national flags of China and Serbia to express the warmest welcome to Xi. The Chinese leader waved to the crowd, which burst into jubilant, prolonged applause and cheers.
The two leaders then held large-group talks with their respective delegations, and jointly declared that the two countries would build a community with a shared future, an upgrade of their relations from the comprehensive strategic partnership established eight years ago.
"The ironclad friendship between China and Serbia has stood the test of the changing international landscape, and [bilateral relationship] has become an example for China's friendly relations with other European countries. During my visit here, we will sign 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, so as to open a new historic chapter in bilateral relations," Xi said while holding talks with Vucic.
At a welcoming banquet around noon held by Vucic and his wife, Xi shared his special bond with the Serbian people, saying he enjoyed Yugoslav films and songs when he was young.
In the afternoon, Xi and Peng attended a farewell ceremony held by Vucic and his wife at Villa Peace.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China not only strives for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, but also works for the welfare of people of the world.
The Serbian leader briefed Xi on the history of Belgrade and its recent development and changes, and thanked Chinese enterprises and workers for their important contributions to Serbia's infrastructure and urban construction.
At the end of a fully-packed day, Vucic bid farewell to Xi at the Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, where he had welcomed the Chinese president the day before.
Serbian parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic, Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, and Foreign Minister Marko Djuric, also saw Xi and Peng off at the airport.
On the way to the airport, Serbians and local Chinese people waved the national flags of the two countries on both sides of the road to warmly congratulate Xi and Peng on the success of their visit to Serbia.
After leaving Belgrade, Xi arrived in Budapest on Wednesday evening for a state visit to Hungary. Hungary is the last stop of Xi's three-nation European tour from May 5 to 10.
Xi's state visit to Serbia strengthens bilateral ironclad friendship
Xi's state visit to Serbia strengthens bilateral ironclad friendship
Xi's state visit to Serbia strengthens bilateral ironclad friendship
