Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) on Friday arrived in Serbia for a visit meant to boost relations with the nation and assert China’s intention to increase its presence in the Balkans and Europe.
Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and government officials welcomed Xi as he landed at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport.
A Serbian folk group performed traditional dances as part of the welcoming ceremony.
Photo: Reuters
The visit is to “open a new page” in relations between the two countries, Xi said in a speech translated into Serbian and distributed by the Serbian presidency.
“China is ready ... to raise the level of bilateral ties,” Xi said.
He added that the two countries also cooperate with China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative — a sweeping plan to deepen trade relations with neighboring countries and open new markets, like Serbia.
Nikolic said in a statement that China was “undoubtedly offering a friendly hand” as Serbia seeks to restart its economy ravaged by years of crisis during the 1990s.
China has been seeking opportunities to deepen ties to the region. Several meetings between southeast European countries and China have been held in past years and accompanied by investment projects, mostly in energy and infrastructure. The Asian economic power has also sought to improve cooperation with the EU.
Xi also inaugurated a Chinese cultural center at the site of the former Chinese embassy, which was bombed accidently during NATO’s 1999 air war against Serbia over Kosovo. With helicopters flying above and scores of police keeping guard, Xi also took a tour of the Belgrade fortress.
During the weekend, Xi is to oversee the signing of about 20 agreements, hold meetings with top officials and visit a Serbian steel plant purchased by a Chinese company.
Serbia has described the visit — the first in more than 30 years by a Chinese leader — as historic.
From Serbia, Xi is to travel to EU-member Poland, where he is to ink deals on finance, aviation, science and education. Poland has sought to develop trade and business ties with China, which it sees as a large market and a counterweight to strictly regulated business ties within the EU.
Xi is to wrap up his tour in Uzbekistan, where he is to attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit focusing on fighting terrorism and crime.
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