On the afternoon of May 25, President Xi Jinping held talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who was on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This is a photo taken before the talks, showing Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan posing for a group photo with Vučić and his wife Tamara.
During the talks, Xi Jinping noted that during his state visit to Serbia in 2024, both sides jointly opened a new chapter in building a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era. Over the past two years, positive results have been achieved in the construction of this community, benefiting the peoples of both countries and setting a model for international relations. Both nations have experienced hardships and glories, possess resilient and indomitable spirits, firmly pursue independence and defend national dignity, and deeply understand the importance of peaceful development and upholding justice. The two sides should strengthen exchanges, consolidate mutual trust, deepen cooperation, and support each other, walking together on a bright path of shared destiny and common prosperity, elevating the China-Serbia comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights.
Xi emphasized that the ironclad friendship between China and Serbia is unique, with deep historical logic and practical foundations. Both sides should continue to firmly support each other. China supports Serbia in adhering to a development path that suits its national conditions and is willing to enhance exchanges on governance experience. China’s 15th Five-Year Plan comprehensively outlines high-quality development goals. The two sides should strengthen the alignment of development strategies, implement the mid-term action plan for Belt and Road cooperation, and continuously advance cooperation in areas such as transportation and energy infrastructure. Facing the new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation, both sides should increase efforts in emerging fields like artificial intelligence, digital economy, green energy, and advanced manufacturing to cultivate new growth points. The series of celebrations for the 70th anniversary of China-Serbia people’s friendship last year received enthusiastic responses. Both sides should continue to strengthen youth and cultural exchanges, utilize the visa-free, free trade, and direct flight framework, and expand cooperation in culture, education, sports, tourism, and local affairs, inheriting and promoting the traditional friendship between the Chinese and Serbian peoples. Amid the current complex and volatile international situation, China and Serbia should continue to coordinate and cooperate in international affairs, practice true multilateralism, and strive for an equal and orderly multipolar world, inclusive and beneficial economic globalization, and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
This is another photo taken before the talks, showing Xi Jinping and Vučić.
Vučić congratulated China on successfully formulating and beginning to implement the 15th Five-Year Plan, expressing belief that under Xi’s leadership, China will achieve greater development. Since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership, bilateral relations have made significant progress with deepening cooperation in various fields. The Serbian and Chinese peoples share an ironclad friendship. The Serbian people will never forget China’s support for Serbia’s independence and sovereignty, as well as its exploration of its own development path. Vučić thanked Chinese enterprises for their participation and important contributions to Serbia’s national construction. Serbia attaches great importance to developing relations with China and unwaveringly supports China’s core interests. He looks forward to deepening high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with China, advancing major project construction, and fostering closer cultural exchanges to achieve more tangible results in bilateral relations. China, as a major country, always treats small countries with equality and respect, abiding by international law, setting an example for the world. Serbia supports the major global initiatives proposed by Xi Jinping and is willing to continue strengthening multilateral coordination with China to maintain international peace and fairness.
After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of over 20 cooperation documents in fields such as politics, economy and trade, science and technology, education, justice, and culture.
The two sides issued a joint statement on continuously advancing the construction of a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era and a joint statement on jointly promoting the implementation of four major global initiatives.
Before the talks, Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan held a welcome ceremony for Vučić and his wife Tamara in the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
When Vučić arrived, honor guards saluted. The two heads of state ascended the reviewing stand, the military band played the national anthems of China and Serbia, and 21 gun salutes were fired at Tiananmen Square. Accompanied by Xi Jinping, Vučić reviewed the guard of honor of the People’s Liberation Army and watched the march-past.
That evening, Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan hosted a welcome banquet for the Vučić couple in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.</p
