Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, has celebrated the Chinese New Year for the eighth consecutive year, highlighting the growing cultural ties between Serbia and China. This year's festivities included markets, fireworks and the symbolic opening of a new Chinatown area in the Serbian capital.
The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, fell on Feb. 17 this year, ushering in the Year of the Horse, the seventh animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.
Celebrations began at Belgrade Waterfront, where officials and residents gathered beneath Serbia's tallest tower to welcome the Year of the Horse, on Feb. 16, the Chinese New Year's Eve. The evening featured lion dances, cultural performances and Chinese cuisine, drawing large crowds despite cold winter weather.
"By the way, we, in Serbia, enjoy Chinese food. I had the opportunity to try Chinese food for the first time some 30 years ago when I ate it with two roommates from China. I visited China twice, and I really enjoy Chinese food, especially when it's like this -- spicy. So here you see how great it is. (he eats Chinese food) This speaks more than any word," said Serbian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Dragan Glamocic.
Despite rain and cold weather, hundreds gathered in Belgrade's new Chinatown to celebrate on Feb. 17. The celebrations featured a temporary stage at the Belmax Center, providing a party of music, dance and food for people to get acquainted with Chinese culture.
David Huang, director of Belmax Center, expressed satisfaction with the turnout.
"We are quite happy with the turnout considering the temperature and the rain. The amount of people decide to show up, we are very pleased. And this shows a great friendship between Serbia and China. That they are interested in our culture and participating in this activity," he said.
These events reinforce the welcome extended to the Chinese community in Serbia and their willingness to integrate and share customs with locals.
Belgrade celebrates Chinese New Year with festivities
The 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting concluded in east China's Suzhou on Saturday, yielding fruitful results and laying significant groundwork for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November.
The trade ministers' meeting focused on "building an open and predictable regional and multilateral economic and trade order" and "fostering new engines of innovative and dynamic trade and investment cooperation."
Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao briefed the media on the meeting's outcomes at a press conference.
Wang said the meeting issued a joint statement titled the Suzhou Statement, and approved the latest edition of the APEC Roadmap for Innovative, Competitive and Resilient Services.
All parties agreed to advance policy innovation and reform in services trade, build an open and predictable investment environment, improve regional trade facilitation and supply chain resilience, strengthen standards coordination, and enhance intellectual property protection, Wang told the media.
He also said that substantial progress was made on a framework document for regional digital trade cooperation and the ministers emphasized promoting inclusive AI development, strengthening AI-related trade, and bridging the digital divide to ensure shared benefits from digital transformation.
The minister noted that the outcomes of the meeting demonstrated strong cooperation willingness, highlighted an innovation-oriented approach, and reflected inclusiveness and shared benefits. "The fact that Asia-Pacific economies can come together, uphold the original aspiration of promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation while supporting economic growth and prosperity, and engage in in-depth discussions on the important issue of 'where multilateral and regional economic and trade cooperation is headed,' fully demonstrates that open regionalism and true multilateralism enjoy broad support, and that mutual success and shared development serve the fundamental interests of all economies," Wang said.
2026 APEC trade ministers' meeting concludes with fruitful results
