Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Serbia

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Serbia on Tuesday evening, the second stop on his first visit to Europe in five years, including Hungary. The heavily guarded visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of NATO's bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, killing three Chinese journalists.

A warm welcome

He was welcomed by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade. Xi was accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan. President Vucic's wife, Tamara Vucic, was also present at the welcoming ceremony.

A military parade and performances of traditional folk dances were held at Belgrade airport.

The two leaders are scheduled to hold talks on Wednesday focusing on China's significant investments in Serbia and potential new deals.

On landing, Xi emphasized that China and Serbia strongly support each other on issues of common interest and important concerns. He underscored their joint efforts to promote international justice and fairness and their contributions to promoting global peace and development.

Extensive security measures were taken during the two-day visit, with Serbian police deploying 3400 officers to protect Xi and his delegation. Xi is scheduled to visit Hungary after his talks in Serbia.

Symbolic timing: A message to West?

The decision to plan Xi's visit on the anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade during NATO's intervention in Kosovo was noteworthy. The NATO attack on May 7, 1999, wounded 20 Chinese nationals and sparked outrage in China, prompting then-U.S. President Bill Clinton to issue an apology.

In an article for the Serbian newspaper "Politika," Xi reflected on the tragic incident that occurred 25 years ago, resulting in the loss of three Chinese citizens. He emphasized China's enduring memory of the bombing and underscored the strong friendship between China and Serbia.

Ahead of Xi's visit, the streets of Belgrade were decorated with Chinese flags and thousands of police officers were deployed to ensure the safety of Xi and his entourage.

Important partner for Balkans

Serbia and China have developed a strong partnership and both leaders emphasized the solid nature of their cooperation. Along with Hungary, Serbia is a strong supporter of China's Belt and Road Initiative and a major recipient of Chinese investment in infrastructure projects.

Analysts say Xi's visit to Serbia and Hungary is aimed at strengthening ties with European countries that maintain close ties with Russia and have significant Chinese investments.

Despite concerns from its Western partners, Serbia sees China as an important partner in its infrastructure development efforts.

China is set to become Serbia's second-largest trading partner and one of the five largest investors in 2023, underscoring the growing economic ties between the two countries.

Source: Newsroom