Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced on December 12 that he is preparing for an official visit to China, which is expected to take place soon.
Speaking in Niš, southern Serbia, Vučić said he had discussed preparations for the visit with China’s ambassador to Belgrade, Li Ming, according to the Beta news agency.
“For me, this will be of exceptional and wonderful importance. I am grateful to Chinese President Xi Jinping for the support he provides us in every respect. This will be an official visit. I have been to China many times before, but those were working visits, whereas this will be an official one,” Vučić said.
He stressed that “China is a sincere and steadfast friend of Serbia.”
The Serbian president met Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 4 in Beijing, when he asked China to assist Serbia in the field of investments.
At that time, Vučić paid a multi-day visit to Beijing, where, at the invitation of the Chinese president, he attended the marking of the 80th anniversary of victory in World War II.
In July 2024, the free trade agreement between Serbia and China entered into force, providing for the removal of customs tariffs on around 20,000 products.
In April, the National Bank of Serbia stated that, based on available data for 2024, the largest foreign direct investments in Serbia by country came from China.
The largest Chinese investors in Serbia include the Zijin company, which invested in RTB Bor in 2018, and Hestil, which purchased the Smederevo Steel Plant in 2016.
Due to the intensification of Serbia’s cooperation with China since the Serbian Progressive Party came to power in 2012, official Belgrade has repeatedly faced criticism and warnings from Brussels and Washington. /RFE/
