Chinese premier meets Serbian PM in Shanghai

China

Chinese premier meets Serbian PM in Shanghai

2025-11-04 19:44 Last Updated At：23:07

Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Serbian Prime Minister Djuro Macut in Shanghai on Tuesday, calling for deepened cooperation between the two countries guided by high-quality implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Macut is in Shanghai for the 8th China International Import Expo which will open on Wednesday.

Li said that President Xi Jinping and President Aleksandar Vucic have met twice this year, further charting the course for building a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era.

China is ready to work with Serbia to uphold the spirit of mutual respect and trust and firmly support each other on issues of core interests and major concerns, Li said.

Within the framework of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, China is willing to advance key projects like the Hungary-Serbia railway, and deepen cooperation in economy, trade and people-to-people exchanges with Serbia so as to bring more benefits to the people of the two countries, he said.

Li called on both sides to enhance multilateral coordination and promote the strengthening and improvement of global governance.

Macut said the mutual visits by the two heads of state have elevated the relations between Serbia and China to a new historical height.

China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) will bring new opportunities for cooperation with China to other countries, Macut said.

He said Serbia looks forward to deepening cooperation with China in economy, trade, and people-to-people exchanges, strengthening multilateral coordination, and promoting common development.

Japan's core CPI up for 55th consecutive month

Japan's core consumer price index (CPI) rose to 112.1 in March, marking the 55th straight month of increase year on year, according to data released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on Friday.

Comparing with March 2025, the country's core CPI climbed 1.8 percent, surpassing February's 1.6 percent rise.

On a monthly basis, the index increased 0.5 percent in March, reversing a 0.3 percent decline recorded in February.

Rising food prices remained the primary driver of inflation, with coffee bean prices surging 54 percent year on year and ordinary rice prices climbing 6.4 percent.

Mobile phone communication fees jumped 11.1 percent, while hotel accommodation costs rose 5 percent.

Electricity bills fell 8 percent in March, thanks to government price subsidies.

As prices continue to climb, a growing number of Japanese consumers expect the inflationary trend to persist.

A recent Bank of Japan survey showed that consumers expect prices to be 10.3 percent higher on average in five years - the highest level since the survey began in 2006.