Full coverage: President Xi Visits 3 Nations, Attends SCO Summit

Full coverage: China’s Leaders

China's president Xi Jinping has arrived in Belgrade at the start of a three-day state visit to Serbia. President Xi was welcomed by his Serbian counterpart, Tomislav Nikolic, and other senior political figures.

Xi will meet political and business leaders and exchange views on international and regional issues. A series of deals is expected to be signed. Serbia was one of the first countries to embrace China's Belt and Road Initiative. Serbia wants to re-industrialize, and it hopes to benefit from increased Chinese investment and greater connectivity across the continent.

It is the first state visit by a Chinese head of state to Serbia in 32 years, and Xi's second trip to central and eastern Europe in less than three months.