Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic paid what he described as an overdue visit to the Great Wall in Beijing on Sunday, hailing the iconic landmark as the best place to understand China while also highlighting the cultural bonds and ironclad friendship between the two countries.
Vucic arrived in Beijing earlier the same day to begin a five-day visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. It marks Vucic's ninth trip to China but is notably his first state visit to the country as the Serbian president.
The Serbian president and his delegation were welcomed to the Great Wall by a troupe of Serbian traditional dancers, before he and his entourage toured the location. Vucic stopped regularly to look around, ask questions, and interact with visitors.
As he reached one of the highest points on the section, Vucic revealed to reporters that President Xi had repeatedly encouraged him to visit the ancient site, and said he is now glad to have the chance to have done so. He said that there is no better place to understand China than the Great Wall.
"Once my very dear friend and a big friend of Serbia, Xi Jinping, was asking me whether I was [planning on] visiting the Great Wall. Actually at that time, I was not. And then once again during the sixth and seventh visits, he reiterated that question and now I decided to come here and to show to you something about Serbian traditions, something about Serbian cultural heritage and customs. But is there any better place to get to know something more about China but visiting this beautiful and this wonderful place?" he said.
Vucic also spoke about his affection for the Chinese people, and his hope to continue what he called the "ironclad friendship" between China and Serbia.
Representatives from two sides exchanged gifts before leaving, with the Serbian president presenting a handwritten tribute to the Great Wall to commemorate his visit.
Vucic hails Great Wall as best place to understand China
