By Zhou Dongyao, researcher with Center for World Affairs Studies, Xinhua News Agency
President Xi Jinping was the first Chinese head of state to pay a state visit to Serbia in 32 years, which opened a new chapter for the history of friendship between the two countries.
Over the past 30 years, the two nations have undergone tremendous changes, but the friendship between the two sides remains the same.
In 2009, the two countries established a strategic partnership and Serbia became China's first strategic partner in central and Eastern Europe. In recent years, leaders of the two countries have met several times to upgrade political trust and economic cooperation.
Last September, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic visited China and attended the activities in commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World anti-Fascist War, demonstrating the two nation’s determination to maintain world peace.
In 2014, construction of the Danube Bridge in Belgrade was completed by Chinese companies.
Xi also received a warm welcome in Serbia. Serbians had shown their hospitality with folk dances to welcome guests from afar, while local teachers and students at a Confucius school demonstrated their achievements in studying Chinese culture through a song and dance program.
After their talks, Chinese President Xi and his Serbian counterpart Nikolic reached an extensive consensus and inked a joint statement on the establishment of China-Serbia comprehensive strategic partnership.
They witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation agreements, covering trade, industrial capacity, infrastructure construction, finance, science and technology, as well as local cooperation to welcome bilateral relations entering a new stage.
Serbia was one of the first countries in Central Eastern Europe to respond to Beijing's "The Belt and Road Initiative," hoping Belgrade could seek synergy between its national "Reindustrialization" strategy and the Initiative and attract more investments.Large projects such as construction of the Coase Tuolaci station, E763 expressway, and Hebei Iron & Steel Group's acquisition of Serbia’s only steel plant are in good order. Construction on the Hungary-Serbia Railways, a Belt & Road" demonstration project had started last year.
These projects can achieve mutual economic and social benefits with a positive impact for the region.
Additionally, Xi had paid homage to the three Chinese martyrs killed in the NATO bombing of the former Chinese Embassy in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1999, where he was joined by the Serbian President, Parliament Speaker and Prime Minister, as well as all cabinet members.
Both heads of the states had emphasized their traditional and special friendship, which had been forged with blood and lives to be handed down from generation to generation as the two sides pledged to work together to promote development and peace.
The two leaders had also attended the inaugural ceremony of foundation laying of the Chinese Culture Center in Belgrade.
Serbia re-named the former Chinese Embassy in the former Yugoslavia site, as Confucius street and Friendship Square to embody affectionate feelings towards the Chinese.
At this heroic land-site, the blossoms of friendship and cooperation between the two countries will bear great fruit to benefit the two peoples in all aspects.
( The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Panview or CCTV.com. )
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