Chinese premier meets Serbian president in Beijing

Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Vucic is on a state visit to China from May 24 to 28.

Noting that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Serbia, Li said that President Xi's meeting with President Vucic made further plans for promoting the building of a community with a shared future in the new era between the two countries.

China stands ready to work with Serbia to firmly support each other on core interests, deepen cooperation in trade, investment, culture and people-to-people exchanges and other fields, and advance key projects such as the Budapest–Belgrade railway to bring more benefits to the people of the two countries, Li said.

The premier also said the two sides should enhance multilateral coordination, promote the implementation of the four major global initiatives, and build a more just and reasonable global governance system.

Noting that Serbia and China have a profound friendship, Vucic said that Serbia firmly adheres to the one-China principle and stands ready to maintain high-level exchanges with China.

Serbia is willing to work with China to deepen exchanges and cooperation in trade and economy, agriculture and food, infrastructure, culture and people-to-people exchanges and other fields, and to enhance multilateral communication and coordination, firmly uphold multilateralism, and safeguard international fairness and justice, Vucic said.

Chinese premier meets Serbian president in Beijing

Chinese premier meets Serbian president in Beijing

Chinese President Xi Jinping awarded Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China in Beijing on Monday.

As solemn music played and the golden doors slowly opened, Xi and Vucic entered the hall together, followed by Xi's wife Peng Liyuan and Vucic's wife Tamara Vucic.

Applauding guests rose to their feet, and paid respect to the two heads of state.

A Guard of Honor escorted the Friendship Medal into the hall, and amid solemn music, Xi formally presented the medal to Vucic.

Xi highlighted Vucic's long-standing commitment to advancing China-Serbia friendship and underscored the significance of the honor.

"President Vucic has long stayed committed to China-Serbia friendship, and he has always given China the firmest and clearest support on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns. He gains the respect from the Chinese people. This medal is not only a high recognition of President Vucic's contributions to bilateral friendship, but also carries the earnest expectations of both peoples for building a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era," Xi said.

The Friendship Medal is China's highest state honor for foreigners, reserved for those who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization drive, promoting exchange and cooperation between China and the world, and safeguarding world peace.

At the invitation of Xi, Vucic is on a state visit to China from Sunday to Thursday, with this marking his first state visit to China and his ninth trip to the country overall.

Xi awards Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic China's friendship medal