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
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
