Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Tamara Vucic, wife of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, visited Beijing Dance Academy on Monday.
Tamara Vucic is accompanying the Serbian president on his state visit to China.
Peng and Tamara Vucic visited the academy's dance museum to learn about the history of Chinese dance. In the dance studios, they observed with keen interest the teaching of Chinese dance, ballet and other dances. They then watched the students' performances and had cordial exchanges with teachers and students in a lively and warm atmosphere.
Peng said that dance art transcends national borders, conveys cultures and ideas, and plays a unique role in people-to-people exchanges and mutual learning. She expressed hope that artists from both countries would strengthen exchanges and cooperation to create more outstanding works.
Tamara Vucic thanked Peng for her thoughtful arrangements and expressed her willingness to promote cultural and artistic exchanges between the two countries and contribute to the deepening of Serbia-China friendship.
Peng Liyuan, Tamara Vucic visit Beijing dance academy
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
