Serbia will never forget China's support in saving steel mill: Vucic

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said his country will never forget the support it received from China, praising Chinese President Xi Jinping as a leader who delivers on his promises.

In an exclusive interview with China Media Group in Beijing during his state visit to China from May 24 to 28, Vucic recalled how China helped his nation through challenging periods, citing the Smederevo Steel Plant as a prime example.

Established in 1913, the Smederevo Steel Plant was once regarded as "the pride of Serbia". However, by the late 1990s, declining competitiveness and weak management had pushed the plant to the brink of closure.

In 2016, China's HBIS Group acquired the Smederevo steel plant. In that same year, Xi visited the facility.

Through joint efforts from both sides, the plant has undergone a breathtaking transformation, regaining its position as one of Serbia's key export engines.

"He came to my country in 2016. Before that, for more than four years, I was seeking, searching, asking, begging all over the world, all the people to start taking care of our steel mill Smederevo because we were losing 12 million U.S. dollars monthly. Can you imagine how big amount of money that is for small Serbia? Find that guy, find another guy, everything was unsuccessful. At the end, President Xi accepted to go, not only to Belgrade, but to go to that smaller place, much smaller place Smederevo, which is hour and a half away from Belgrade. He went there together with us. He addressed the workers and he promised them China will solve this problem. And since then, China is owning and managing the company. At the end, it would have never, ever been done without the strong word of President Xi," said Vucic.

Vucic stressed that Serbia will always remember China's help.

"In politics, there is nothing that lasts less than gratitude. But that is not the case with us. And I will never forget it. I will never forget it -- he saved us at that particular moment, not to mention mines in east part of Serbia, from the part of the country where people were leaving for the last 60 years going somewhere else to live and to work in order to earn for bread. These are big things," he said.

Serbia will never forget China's support in saving steel mill: Vucic

India's heatwave season has lasted for over 10 days, placing growing pressure on local energy supply as many parts of the country reel under extreme temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius.

The heatwave conditions have intensified over recent years with longer and harsher summers. Indian residents are experiencing temperatures 4-10 degrees Celsius above what is usual for the season, pushing energy demand to a record high.

In Delhi, during the scorching heat of May, peak power demand touched almost 8,500 megawatts, the highest recorded this year.

The India Meteorological Department predicts that maximum temperatures will remain above normal for most regions in the days to come.

Many in the country are now anxiously awaiting the monsoon season, which was supposed to have arrived in south India but is running behind schedule.

The monsoon delivers about 70 percent of annual rains to replenish crucial water sources, with almost half of farmland lacking irrigation and about half the population earning its livelihood from farming. Projections indicate that India will receive its lowest rainfall in 11 years this monsoon season.

Experts said the developing Super El Nino pattern this year, which warms surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, is likely to weaken the monsoon, putting millions of farmers at risk.

The low rainfall is expected to weigh on economic growth and increase inflation through higher food prices.

In past El Nino years, below-average rainfall in India sometimes triggered severe droughts that reduced crop yields and led to curbs on grain exports.

Extreme temperatures persist in India, threatening energy supply