The moment of Xi Jinping’s visit to Europe｜The code for forging the “steel pole” friendship between China and Serbia

On May 8, local time, President Xi Jinping held talks with Serbian President Vucic at the Serbian Building in Belgrade. After the talks, President Xi Jinping presented a "special gift" to President Vucic.

△On May 8, local time, President Xi Jinping, who was on a state visit to Serbia, presented a gift to President Vucic.

The gift is a steel handicraft in the shape of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing and St. Sava Church in Belgrade, made from steel produced at the Smedelevo Steel Plant of China's HBIS Group. Looking at this gift, Chairman Xi said wittily that he is a "steel pole" friend.

Two steel handicrafts remind people of a gift from 8 years ago——

In June 2016, when President Xi Jinping paid his first state visit to Serbia, workers at the Smederevo Steel Plant "customized" a commemorative plate with a silhouette of the steel plant using steel produced by the plant and gave it to distinguished guests from afar. To express your gratitude.

△Workers of the Smederevo Steel Plant presented a commemorative plaque to President Xi Jinping

Behind the commemorative plaque is a story of "revitalizing a factory and reviving a city."

The century-old steel mill Smedelevo suffered a severe winter in its operation and was once on the verge of bankruptcy. In 2016, China’s HBIS Group acquired this steel plant, riding on the momentum of the Belt and Road Initiative. Soon, the steel mill turned a profit. This not only completely changed the destiny of the steel mill, but also enhanced the confidence and hope of the people. In 2018, the steel plant produced 1.77 million tons of steel annually, setting a record in the 105 years since its establishment. It achieved revenue of US$1.05 billion, making it Serbia's largest export earner in one fell swoop.

△On June 19, 2016, President Xi Jinping interacted with workers in the staff canteen of HBIS Group’s Smedelevo Steel Plant.

Not long ago, 30 Serbian employee representatives of the steel plant wrote to President Xi Jinping, introducing the recent development of the steel plant and its important contribution to the improvement of local people's livelihood, and once again expressing their gratitude to President Xi Jinping for his personal care and promotion of the project. On April 29, President Xi Jinping replied to a letter to Serbian employees of the Smederevo Steel Plant, encouraging them to make new contributions to China-Serbia friendship.

Not only this steel plant, the Zemun-Borca Bridge across the Danube River is affectionately called the "Chinese Bridge" by the locals; the E763 highway is an important channel for Serbia to the sea, and it is also the main channel for Chinese enterprises in Europe. The first highway built; in May this year, the Serbian national football stadium project undertaken by a Chinese company held a groundbreaking ceremony at the project construction site in Belgrade... President Vucic said: "When Serbia needs help, China can always be there in time Appear."

The two countries and peoples always lend a helping hand to each other without hesitation when they need it most.

After the devastating earthquake in Wenchuan, China, in 2008, Serbia immediately extended a helping hand to China and donated a large amount of relief materials. After the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, Serbian civil organizations voluntarily donated masks and other materials to the Chinese people.

△On May 7, local time, when President Xi Jinping arrived at Belgrade Nikola Tesla International Airport, Serbian President Vucic held a unique welcome ceremony for President Xi at the airport.

Because of this precious friendship, President Vucic and the Serbian people warmly invited, welcomed and treated President Xi Jinping with kindness.

The Chinese say, "Friends unite through righteousness." Serbians say, "Friends are the best wealth in life."

Treat each other sincerely and build a solid foundation for the "steel pole" friendship.

On May 7, when he went to Belgrade for a state visit to Serbia, President Xi Jinping pointed out in a signed article published by Serbia’s Politika: “Through this visit, I am willing to work with Serbia to carry forward the iron-clad friendship between China and Serbia. , use concrete actions to better benefit the people of the two countries, promote world peace and development, and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.”

△On the morning of May 8, local time, President Xi Jinping held talks with Serbian President Vucic at the Serbian Building in Belgrade. This is a small-scale meeting between the two heads of state.

On May 8, the two heads of state announced to deepen and enhance the China-Serbia comprehensive strategic partnership and build a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era. Serbia has become the first European country to jointly build a community with a shared future with China.

What does it mean for China and Serbia to have a community with a shared future in the new era? When meeting with President Vucic, President Xi Jinping said that the China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era is the sublimation of the iron-clad friendship between China and Serbia, and also represents the common values ​​​​and goal pursuits of both parties, that is, seeking common development, win-win cooperation, and mutual achievement. .

President Vucic said that our announcement today to upgrade the comprehensive strategic partnership between Serbia and China and to build a community with a shared future between Serbia and China in the new era will surely become a new milestone in the history of Serbia-China relations.

△On the morning of May 8, local time, President Xi Jinping and Serbian President Vucic jointly met with reporters after their talks.

When jointly meeting reporters later, President Xi said that building a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era is a strategic decision by both sides. The goal is to realize the aspirations of the two peoples for a better life. The motivation comes from the firm support and extensive participation of the two peoples.

The China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era is a vivid chapter of the community with a shared future for mankind proposed by President Xi Jinping.

China and Serbia signed the first free trade agreement between China and Central and Eastern European countries; China's first high-speed railway in Europe - the Hungary-Serbia railway started in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia... China and Serbia have written many "firsts" ", the fates are closely linked.

"We not only seek rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, but also seek happiness for the people of the world. We not only pursue our own development, but are also committed to achieving common development with other countries in the world. This is my original intention of proposing to build a community with a shared future for mankind." At the end of his speech to Serbia, During his visit, President Xi Jinping said goodbye to Vucic and said that China is willing to strengthen cooperation with countries around the world, including Serbia, to seek common development.

On May 8, the General Administration of Customs of China issued an announcement on the phytosanitary requirements for importing Serbian fresh blueberries, saying that from now on, the import of Serbian fresh blueberries that meet the relevant requirements will be allowed.

△On the morning of May 8, local time, the two heads of state jointly signed the "Joint Statement on Deepening and Upgrading the China-Serbia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Building a China-Serbia Community with a Shared Future in the New Era."

This is what President Xi Jinping announced during this visit, including "China is willing to expand imports of high-quality agricultural products with Serbian characteristics. The two sides have completed the export procedures of dried plums and blueberries to China, and have lifted the ban on highly pathogenic avian influenza in Serbia." One of the six practical measures in the first phase of building a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era.

"Be true to your words and be resolute in your deeds", this pragmatic style is the foundation of China-Serbia cooperation.

Back then, when China's HBIS Group first took over the Smedelevo Steel Plant, it was once questioned. President Xi Jinping came to the steel plant and responded frankly: "We must fulfill our promises. We will provide advanced technology, management, and equipment, open up better markets, improve employment and the environment here, and benefit the majority of people's livelihood."

On May 8 this year, the two heads of state jointly signed the "Joint Statement on Deepening and Upgrading the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and Serbia and Building a Community with a Shared Future between China and Serbia in the New Era". They jointly witnessed the exchanges including the joint construction of the "Belt and Road", green development, digital A number of bilateral cooperation texts including economy, e-commerce, media and other fields.

△After the talks between the two heads of state, they jointly witnessed the exchange of a number of bilateral cooperation documents.

"China will continue to expand the import of high-quality agricultural products with Serbian characteristics" "welcome Serbia to open a direct flight from Belgrade to Shanghai" and "create more 'small but beautiful' people's livelihood projects"... The cooperation between the two countries will be closer and more For a long time. President Vucic said: "Serbia's future is closely linked to China."

"Steel pole" friendship can stand the test of time.

△On the morning of May 8, local time, before the talks between the two sides, President Vucic accompanied President Xi Jinping to the Serbian Building platform. In the square of the building, 15,000 Serbian people waved the national flags of China and Serbia and expressed their warmest welcome to President Xi Jinping.

Sincere treatment, pragmatic cooperation and joint pursuit of the future are the secret codes of the "steel pole" friendship between China and Serbia.

From the time the plane landed in the middle of the night under the stars to when it set off again at dusk, President Xi Jinping did not spend long in Serbia. In the Serbian Building Square, the enthusiasm of 15,000 people waving the national flags of China and Serbia, and their endless cheers and applause echoed in people's hearts.

As President Vucic said: "Today we are writing history, and in the future we will commemorate this moment because today will point the way for the future."

May 8, 2024, will always be remembered by Serbian history and people.

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