Xi Jinping delivered a written speech upon arrival at Nikola Tesla International Airport in Belgrade, Serbia
Written remarks on arrival at Nikola Tesla International Airport in Belgrade, Serbia
It is a great pleasure for me to pay a state visit to the Republic of Serbia at the kind invitation of President Aleksandar Vucic. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I would like to extend my sincere greetings and best wishes to the friendly Serbian government and people.
China and Serbia share a profound traditional friendship, and their relations have withstood the test of the vicissitudes of the international situation, setting a model for state-to-state relations. Since the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016, bilateral relations have developed by leaps and bounds and made historic achievements. The political mutual trust between the two countries is as solid as a rock, and the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation has yielded fruitful results. They have successively achieved comprehensive mutual visa exemption, opened direct flights, and signed free trade agreements. People-to-people exchanges have become closer, and the iron-clad friendship is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. China and Serbia firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns, jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, and have made positive contributions to promoting world peace and development. China-Serbia cooperation is based on equality and mutual benefit, conforms to the fundamental and long-term interests of both countries, injects strong impetus into their respective development and revitalization, brings benefits to the two peoples, and contributes to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Standing at a new historical starting point, China is willing to work with Serbia to stay true to our original aspirations, move forward hand in hand, and create a new situation for cooperation with stronger momentum, wider areas, and higher quality. I look forward to taking this visit as an opportunity to have an in-depth exchange of views with President Vucic on bilateral relations and other issues of common concern, discuss friendship, discuss cooperation, seek common development, and chart a new blueprint for the development of bilateral relations. I believe that this visit will achieve fruitful results and write a new chapter in the development of China-Serbia relations.