On May 8 local time, President Xi Jinping held talks with Serbian President Vucic at the Serbian House in Belgrade. After the talks, President Xi Jinping presented a "special gift" to President Wuqi Qi.

△ On May 8 local time, President Xi Jinping, who was on a state visit to Serbia, presented a gift to President Vucic.

This gift is a steel handicraft in the shape of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing and St. Sava Church in Belgrade, made of steel produced by the Smederevo Steel Plant of China Hegang Group. Looking at this gift, President Xi said humorously that he was a "steel pole" friend.

The two heads of state clasped their hands.

Gift spanning 8 years

Two steel handicrafts, reminiscent of a gift 8 years ago——

In June 2016, when President Xi Jinping paid his first state visit to Serbia, the workers of Smederevo Steel Plant "customized" a steel mill silhouette commemorative plate with the steel produced by the plant, which was sent to the distinguished guests from afar to express their gratitude.

△ Workers of Smederevo Steel Plant presented a commemorative plaque to President Xi Jinping

Behind the plaque is a story of "revitalizing a factory and saving a city".

Smederevo, a century old steel mill, was once on the verge of bankruptcy due to severe winter in its operation. In 2016, taking advantage of the "Belt and Road" initiative, China Hegang Group acquired the steel plant. Soon, the steel plant turned losses into profits. This not only completely changed the fate of the steel plant, but also enhanced the confidence and hope of the people. In 2018, the steel plant produced 1.77 million tons of steel annually, the highest record since its establishment in 105 years, and achieved revenue of 1.05 billion US dollars, becoming the largest export earner in Serbia.

△ On June 19, 2016, President Xi Jinping communicated and interacted with workers in the canteen of Smederevo Steel Plant of Hegang Group.

Not long ago, 30 representatives of Serbian employees of the steel plant sent a letter to President Xi Jinping, introducing the recent development of the steel plant and its important contribution to the improvement of local people's livelihood, and again expressing their gratitude to President Xi Jinping for his personal care and contribution to the project. On April 29, President Xi Jinping replied to the Serbian employees of Smederevo Steel Plant, encouraging them to make new contributions to China Serbia friendship.

It is not only this steel mill, but also the Zemun Borca Bridge across the Danube River, which is affectionately called the "China Bridge" by local people; E763 Expressway is an important passage from Serbia to the sea port, and also the first expressway built by Chinese enterprises in Europe; In May this year, the foundation laying ceremony of the Serbian National Football Stadium project contracted by Chinese enterprises was held at the project construction site in Belgrade... President Vucic said, "When Serbia needs help, China will always be there in time."

The two countries and the two peoples are always ready to lend a helping hand when the other side needs it most.

After the devastating earthquake in Wenchuan, China in 2008, Serbia immediately extended a helping hand to China and donated a large number of relief materials; After the outbreak of COVID-19, Serbian civil organizations spontaneously donated masks and other materials to the Chinese people.

△ On May 7 local time, when President Xi Jinping arrived at Belgrade's Nikola Tesla International Airport, President Vucic of Serbia held a unique welcoming ceremony for President Xi Jinping at the airport.

Because of this precious friendship, President Vucic and the Serbian people warmly invited, welcomed and treated President Xi Jinping's visit.

The Chinese say, "Friends are just.". Serbs said, "Friends are the best wealth in life".

Sincerely treat each other and lay a solid foundation for "steel pole" friendship.

Real action

On May 7, on the occasion of his state visit to Serbia in Belgrade, President Xi Jinping visited the Serbian Politico newspaper The signed article said: "I am willing to work with the Serbian side to carry forward the strong friendship between China and Serbia through this visit, and take concrete actions to better benefit the two peoples, promote world peace and development, and jointly promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind."

△ On the morning of May 8 local time, President Xi Jinping held talks with Serbian President Vucic at the Serbian Building in Belgrade. This is a small-scale meeting between the two heads of state.

On May 8, the two heads of state announced that they would deepen and enhance China Serbia comprehensive strategic partnership and build a community of common destiny in the new era. Serbia became the first European country to jointly build a community of common destiny with China.

What does China Serbia community of common destiny mean in the new era? During the meeting with President Vuchi ć, President Xi Jinping said that the China Serbia community of shared future in the new era is the sublimation of the iron friendship between China and Serbia, and also represents the common values and goals of both sides, that is, common development, win-win cooperation and mutual achievements.

President Vuchi ć said that today's announcement to enhance the comprehensive strategic partnership between Serbia and China and build a community of shared future between Serbia and China in the new era will certainly become a new milestone in the history of Serbia China relations. 　

△ On the morning of May 8 local time, President Xi Jinping and Serbian President Vucic jointly met with the press after their talks.

In the subsequent joint meeting with reporters, President Xi said that building a community of shared future between China and Serbia in the new era is a strategic choice for both sides. The goal is to realize the aspirations of the two peoples for a better life. The impetus comes from the firm support and broad participation of the two peoples.

In the new era, the China Serbia community with a shared future is a vivid chapter of the community with a shared future for mankind proposed by President Xi Jinping.

China and Serbia signed the first free trade agreement between China and Central and Eastern European countries; Hungary Serbia Railway, the first European high-speed railway of China, started in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia... China and Serbia have written many "firsts", and their fate is closely linked.

"We are not only working for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, but also for the happiness of the people of the world. We are not only pursuing our own development, but also committed to achieving common development with other countries in the world, which is my original intention to build a community with a shared future for mankind." At the end of his visit to Serbia, President Xi Jinping said goodbye to Wu Qiqi, China is willing to strengthen cooperation and seek common development with all countries in the world, including Serbia.

Closely linked future

On May 8, the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China issued a notice on the plant quarantine requirements for importing Serbian fresh blueberries, stating that from now on, Serbian fresh blueberries that meet the relevant requirements are allowed to be imported.

△ On the morning of May 8 local time, the two heads of state jointly signed the Joint Statement on Deepening and Upgrading China Serbia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Building a Community of Shared Future in a New Era.

This is one of the six practical measures that President Xi Jinping announced during his visit, including "China is willing to expand the import of high-quality agricultural products with Serbian characteristics, the two sides have completed the formalities for exporting dried plums and blueberries to China, and lifted the ban on the highly pathogenic avian influenza epidemic in Serbia".

"Faithful in words and resolute in deeds", this pragmatic style is the foundation of China Serbia cooperation.

When China Hegang Group just took over the Smederevo Steel Plant, it was once questioned. President Xi Jinping came to the steel plant and frankly responded: "We must deliver what we have promised. We will provide advanced technology, management and equipment, open up a better market, improve the employment and environment here, and benefit the people's livelihood."

On May 8 this year, the two heads of state jointly signed the Joint Statement on Deepening and Upgrading China Serbia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Building China Serbia Community of Shared Future in the New Era, and jointly witnessed the exchange of a number of bilateral cooperation texts, including the joint construction of the "Belt and Road", green development, digital economy, e-commerce, media and other fields.

△ After the talks between the two heads of state, they jointly witnessed the exchange of a number of bilateral cooperation texts.

"China will continue to expand the import of high-quality agricultural products with Serbian characteristics", "welcome Serbia to open more direct flights from Belgrade to Shanghai", "create more" small and beautiful "livelihood projects"... The cooperation between the two countries will be closer and longer. President Vucic said: "Serbia's future is closely linked to China."

"Steel" friendship can stand the test of time.

△ On the morning of May 8 local time, before the talks between the two sides, President Vucic accompanied President Xi Jinping to the platform of the Serbian Building. On the square of the building, 15000 Serbs waved the national flags of China and Serbia to extend the warmest welcome to President Xi Jinping (right).

Sincere treatment, practical cooperation and common plans for the future are the codes forged by the "steel pole" friendship between China and Serbia.

President Xi Jinping's time in Serbia is not long. On the square of Serbia Mansion, the enthusiasm of 15000 people waving the national flags of China and Serbia, and the endless cheers and applause echoed in people's hearts for a long time.

As President Wu Qiqi said, "Today we are writing history, and in the future we will commemorate this moment, because today will point the way for the future."

On May 8, 2024, Serbian history and people will always remember.

Supervised by Geng Zhimin

Producer | Xinglai

Chief Editor | Ning Li Li

Written by Yang Caiyun

Vision | Jiangyuhang

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