Documentary series on China launched in Belgrade ahead of Serbian president's state visit

A Chinese documentary screening series was launched in Belgrade on Wednesday, with the programs shining a spotlight on cultural ties between China and Serbia as Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic prepares to embark on a state visit to China.

Co-organized by the China Media Group (CMG), Radio Television of Serbia (PTC), the Serbian Ministry of Culture, and the two countries' embassies, the event showcased a selection of CMG-produced documentaries covering Chinese cultural heritage, technological innovation, ecological conservation and social development.

A selection of the titles will be aired on Serbia's PTC and Politika website, offering local audiences insights into China.

Over 150 participants attended Wednesday's launch event, including representatives from the two countries' political and academic sectors, the media community, and those involved in projects as part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

In a written address, CMG President Shen Haixiong said the documentary collaboration is another concrete step to deepen people-to-people ties under the China-Serbia community with a shared future, a framework through which Serbia become the first European country to enter into such an upgraded partnership with China.

During the launch ceremony, Serbian officials, including Marina Ragus, deputy speaker of Serbia's National Assembly, Boris Bratina, Serbia's Minister of Information and Telecommunications, and Manja Grcic, Director General of PTC, said that the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity and the four global initiatives proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping provide a key blueprint for the world's development.

They said this documentary screening series will help Serbian audiences better understand the practices of promoting Chinese modernization under the leadership of President Xi.

Serbian media outlets including the PTC, Politika, and the Tanjug News Agency, as well as other mainstream European broadcasters and agencies such as Russia's RT TV and the Sputnik News Agency covered the event.

The selection of programs includes "The Heritage Guardian", a mini-documentary series about President Xi's deep understanding of and appreciation for Chinese culture, was screened on PTC platforms and the Politika website following the launch ceremony. A series of other quality programming from the CMG will also be rolled out on major platforms across Serbia.

Serbia's President Vucic is scheduled to visit China from May 24 to 28.

Documentary series on China launched in Belgrade ahead of Serbian president's state visit

China will continue deepening reform and expanding high-level opening-up to provide new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world, while reaffirming the country's commitment to regional economic integration and inclusive globalization, according to Wang Wentao, Chinese Minister of Commerce.

Wang made the remarks ahead of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, which is being held from Friday to Saturday in Suzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province.

By 2025, China had become the largest trading partner of 13 APEC economies. Trade between China and APEC economies reached 3.7 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for 57.8 percent of China's total foreign trade, while imports from APEC economies totaled 1.5 trillion dollars.

The country's actual use of foreign investment from APEC economies reached 90.61 billion dollars, while China's investment in APEC economies stood at 136.58 billion dollars.

So far, China has signed 24 free trade agreements or economic and trade arrangements with 31 countries and regions, including 15 APEC economies.

In recent years, China has also completed upgrades of free trade agreements with APEC economies, including Singapore and Peru.

"China has implemented the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement with high quality and actively advanced the process of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), supporting the coordinated development and mutual reinforcement of the two agreements to inject momentum into the building of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific. China has also proposed and promoted high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the four major global initiatives, with the aim of advancing universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization and addressing unbalanced development," said Wang.

Facing common challenges, China will continue to demonstrate its responsibility as a major country by further deepening reform and expanding high-level opening-up, Wang said.

He noted that China will continue to create new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world through new achievements in Chinese modernization.

China vows stronger support for APEC cooperation, regional economic integration