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
Several Japanese peace groups, with some key political figures involved, held an exchange meeting in Tokyo on Monday to oppose the lifting of restrictions on lethal weapon exports and submitted a petition signed by tens of thousands of people to the Diet against lifting the arms export ban.
Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Monday held consultations with the far-right Japan Innovation Party (NIP), a member of its ruling coalition, and confirmed that it will compile its opinions on abolishing the export restrictions on five categories of equipment under the three principles on the transfer of defense equipment guidelines by February next year, and formally submit relevant policy recommendations to the government.
"Japan has long adhered to the principle of not profiting from weapons, yet it has begun exporting weapons, and even weapons with lethal capabilities, and is even promoting joint research and development and investing huge sums of money in them. I believe this is extremely irresponsible, and now is the time to put the brakes on," said Mizuho Fukushima, head of the Social Democratic Party of Japan. "As a nation, Japan should uphold its stance of not possessing war-making capabilities, renouncing war, and refusing to recognize the right of belligerency. However, arms exports are now being taken for granted and are continuing unabated. To stop this trend, I hope to return to the basics, starting from the fundamental principles of the Constitution, and resolutely halt it," said House of Representatives lawmaker Seiken Akamine.
Attendees said that the Constitution of Japan clearly stipulates that Japan cannot possess an army or other war-fighting capabilities, and that manufacturing and exporting weapons of mass destruction clearly violates the pacifist constitution. The Japanese government should immediately cease this erroneous practice.
"Next, Japan plans to take steps toward exporting destroyers, a type of lethal weapon, in its relationship with Australia. It even intends to abolish the five categories of restrictions on equipment exports, allowing for the free export of all types of lethal weapons. This is precisely the path Japan is heading down. This is an extremely serious issue and must be resolutely opposed," said Tisaka Jun, member of Japan Peace Committee.
Japan's current three principles on the transfer of defense equipment only permit the export of five categories of equipment in rescue, transportation, early warning, surveillance, and mine clearance. Once this policy is abolished, Japan will be permitted to export a variety of equipment, including lethal weapons.
Japanese activists voice strong opposition against country's attempt to lift arms export ban
