Xi arrives in Belgrade for state visit to Serbia

Belgrade, May 8 , 2024 : Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Belgrade on Tuesday to pay a state visit to Serbia. Serbian Air Force sent two fighter jets to escort Xi’s plane after it entered the country’s airspace. The Chinese president was warmly welcomed by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and his
wife, Tamara Vucic, at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. Serbian children presented flowers to Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, and waved the national flags
of China and Serbia. Serbian people dressed in national costumes sang and danced to welcome them. “China and Serbia enjoy profound traditional friendship. Our bilateral relationship has stood the test of changing international environment and become a fine example of state-to-state relations,” Xi said in a written statement upon arrival. Xi said he looks forward to taking this visit as an opportunity to have in-depth exchange of views with Vucic on bilateral relationship and other issues of mutual interest, renew friendship, plan for cooperation, explore development, and draw up a new blueprint for the development of
bilateral relations. “I am confident that this visit will be a fruitful one and will open up a new chapter in ChinaSerbia relations,” he said. Xi’s visit to Serbia marks his second visit to the country in eight years, which is a milestone to upgrade and improve bilateral relations. “It gives me great pleasure to pay a state visit to the Republic of Serbia at the warm invitation of President Vucic,” Xi said. “On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I would like to extend heartfelt greetings and best wishes to the friendly government and people of Serbia,” he added.He said that since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016, the bilateral relationship has realized leapfrog development, and achieved historic results.