Belgrade, May 7 (Reporter Zhang Zhiwen, Lin Rui) On the evening of May 7 local time, President Xi Jinping arrived in Belgrade by special plane and paid a state visit to Serbia at the invitation of President Vucic of Serbia.
After Xi Jinping's special plane entered Serbian airspace, two Serbian air force warplanes were launched to escort him. When Xi Jinping arrived at Belgrade's Nikola Tesla International Airport by special plane, Serbian President Vucic and his wife, President of the State Council for Cooperation with China and former President Nikolic and his wife, Speaker Bulnabic, Prime Minister Vucic and Foreign Minister Djuric warmly welcomed him.
Wu Qiqi held a unique welcoming ceremony for Xi Jinping at the airport. Serbian children presented flowers to Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan, waved the national flags of China and Serbia, and the Serbian people dressed in national costumes sang and danced a warm welcome.
Xi Jinping delivered a written speech. Xi Jinping pointed out that the traditional friendship between China and Serbia is profound, and the relationship between the two countries has withstood the test of international changes and set a good example of state to state relations. Since the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016, bilateral relations have achieved leapfrog development and made historic achievements. The political mutual trust between the two countries is rock solid, the high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" has yielded fruitful results, personnel exchanges are closer, and the iron friendship is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. China Serbia cooperation is based on equality and mutual benefit, which is in line with the fundamental and long-term interests of both countries. The Chinese side is willing to work with the Serbian side to forge ahead hand in hand and forge a new situation of cooperation with stronger momentum, broader fields and higher quality. I look forward to taking this visit as an opportunity to have an in-depth exchange of views with President Wu Qiqi on bilateral relations and other issues of common concern, to discuss friendship, cooperation and development together, and to plan a new blueprint for the development of bilateral relations. I believe that this visit will certainly achieve fruitful results and write a new chapter in the development of China Serbia relations.
Peng Liyuan, wife of President Xi Jinping, Cai Qi, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and other accompanying personnel arrived by the same plane.
Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming also greeted him at the airport.
On the way from the airport to the hotel where Xi Jinping stayed, Belgrade was full of joy and festivity. The national flags of China and Serbia are fluttering in the wind everywhere. "China Red" is lit in many places, and "Warmly welcome dear Chinese friends" is played on the huge electronic screen. Chinese overseas Chinese and students studying in Serbia, as well as Serbian people, spontaneously waited on both sides of the road, waved the national flags of China and Serbia, and warmly welcomed Xi Jinping's visit.
