The recently built China Cultural Center in Belgrade has opened to the public, becoming a new hub for mutual exchange and learning about Chinese culture, drawing local visitors and Chinese working and living there.
The center is jointly built by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the provincial government of Shandong to foster deeper connections between China and Serbia. It offers classes on Chinese language, traditional Chinese musical instruments, Chinese calligraphy, and Tai Chi.
Wang Jun, CEO of a Chinese company, Long Ding Sheng Group, has been doing business in Serbia since 1998, operating a hotel and restaurant here. He explained that both his life and business in Belgrade have greatly benefited from the growing ties between the two countries over the past decade.
"Before 2010, doing business here was not very stable, with the biggest instability being our inability to obtain permanent residency. In the past decade, these restrictions have gradually eased. I feel that both the friendliness of the Serbian people towards us and the business environment here have improved," Wang said.
The China Culture Center stands on Belgrade's Confucius Street, named after the great ancient Chinese philosopher and educator.
Covering an area of 6,000 square meters, the center's construction began in 2017. Its building blends distinctive Chinese cultural elements into its design, with the exterior reflecting traditional artistry inspired by the works of a renowned ancient Chinese landscape painter.
Inside the building, a grand floral painting titled "A Prosperous and Peaceful Time" greets visitors, symbolizing harmony and growth and making the center a new emblem of friendship between China and Serbia.
Chinese Cultural Center in Belgrade a new hub for Sino-Serbian connections
China attaches great importance to the development of China-Singapore relations, and is willing to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, promote practical cooperation in various fields, and enhance people-to-people exchanges with Singapore, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when holding talks with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in Beijing.
Noting that over the past year, under the strategic guidance of leaders of the two countries and joint efforts of both sides, the all-round high-quality and future-oriented partnership between China and Singapore has maintained a good momentum, Wang urged the two countries to continue to enhance strategic communication, increase mutual trust, jointly address the ever-emerging global challenges at present, and safeguard the overall situation of regional peace and stability.
Wang said that maintaining the security of global industrial and supply chains and the smooth flow of maritime navigation is in the common interests of the international community, and China is willing to continue to make efforts to this end.
Noting that Singapore is an important ASEAN member and will assume ASEAN's rotating presidency next year, Wang said China expects the Singaporean side to continue playing an active role in promoting China-ASEAN cooperation.
Balakrishnan said Singapore highly values its relations with China, adheres to the one-China policy, and firmly opposes "Taiwan independence."
Singapore is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with China, promote practical cooperation in various fields, carry out key cooperation projects of both sides, and promote regional connectivity, he said.
Singapore is ready to promote greater progress in ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership, support the Global Development Initiative, and uphold multilateralism and free trade, and is willing to work with China to make joint efforts in promoting world peace, development and prosperity, he added.
China ready to promote practical cooperation with Singapore: Chinese FM
