The third China-Serbia Duanwu International Dragon Boat Festival was held in the Serbian capital of Belgrade this weekend, highlighting bilateral cultural exchanges.
The two-day event brought together more than 300 paddlers of 16 teams representing China, Serbia, Hungary, Romania and other countries. Held on the waters of urban lake Ada Ciganlija, the festival featured 200-meter and 500-meter dragon boat races.
Organized by the Serbian Dragon Boat Federation and the Chinese Cultural Center in Belgrade, this year's festival is the largest to date.
Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming said that the event has become a key symbol of the "ironclad friendship" between China and Serbia. He noted that the festival's spirit of patriotism and unity perfectly mirrors the development of bilateral relations.
Nikola Mijailovic, state secretary of Serbia's Ministry of Tourism and Youth, added that the event is "much more than a sports competition," it "represents a bond of unbreakable friendship" between Serbia and China.
"It has been ten years since dragon boat racing was introduced to Serbia and it is still thriving. Every year, our team membership grows, and more people take part in the races. It's a good thing," said Nikola, a Serbian dragon boat paddler.
Besides dragon boat competition, the event also offered various performances and exhibitions by artists from east China's Shandong Province, highlighting Yantai paper cutting, Konghou musical art and martial arts presentations.
"I love Chinese food. I tried something from every stall, and the zongzi was especially delicious," said a local resident.
Zongzi, or sticky rice dumplings, is a traditional Chinese food associated with the Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival. The festival, on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month which falls on June 19 this year, commemorates ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan from the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.).
China-Serbia dragon boat festival held in Belgrade
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, said on Monday that the relationship between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) stands at a new historical starting point.
Xi arrived in the DPRK capital of Pyongyang earlier on Monday to begin a two-day state visit at the invitation of Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, marking his first trip to the country in seven years.
Delivering a speech at a welcome banquet hosted by Kim, Xi pointed out that China and the DPRK, linked by mountains and rivers and sharing a common future, have seen their traditional friendship passed down across generations and grow ever stronger over time through the test of the evolving international landscape.
This year marks the 65th anniversary of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, and the China-DPRK relationship stands at a new historical starting point, Xi said, noting that he has reached important consensus with Kim during his visit.
From the strategic perspective of the future and destiny of socialism, both leaders have agreed to seize the general trend of the times, respond to the shared aspirations of the two peoples, strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen strategic communication, expand practical cooperation, enhance people-to-people bonds, promote the high-level development of China-DPRK relations, jointly open up brighter prospects for the socialist cause of both countries, and contribute to the continuous progress of human society, Xi said.
The successful convening of the Ninth Congress of the WPK this year has made strategic plans and major arrangements for the long-term development of the Party and the country's cause, ushering in a new period of comprehensive development of the DPRK's socialist cause, Xi said.
As good neighbors, good friends and good comrades, the Chinese side sincerely wishes that, under the strong leadership of the Central Committee of the WPK headed by General Secretary Kim, the DPRK people will successfully accomplish the goals and tasks set by the Ninth Congress of the WPK and make constant new achievements in the socialist cause of the DPRK, Xi said.
On behalf of the WPK, the government and the people of the DPRK, Kim extended the warmest welcome to Xi on his visit. Kim said that Pyongyang was filled with an atmosphere of friendship on this special day as the DPRK's Party, government and people warmly welcomed their most distinguished guest.
Noting that Xi's first overseas trip of the year had brought him to the DPRK, Kim said this fully demonstrated the great importance Xi attached to developing relations between the two parties and the two countries, and constituted the most valuable support for the DPRK's socialist cause.
Noting the meeting with Xi came nine months after their previous meeting, Kim said that during this meeting, they reached important consensus on further advancing DPRK-China relations with new contemporary connotations in light of new changing circumstances, and exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern, which will surely accelerate the development of the DPRK-China friendship with profound historical traditions, and contribute to peace and stability in the region and the world.
The DPRK people take heartfelt joy in the remarkable achievements made by the brotherly Chinese people, Kim said, expressing belief that under the leadership of the CPC with Xi at its core, the great Chinese people will surely create greater achievements in building a great modern socialist country in all respects, realizing the Second Centenary Goal, and completing the new journey toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Xi says China-DPRK ties stand at new historical starting point
