Peking (ots/PRNewswire) – Recently, a response from Chinese President Xi Jinping excited and inspired workers at the HBIS Smederevo steel plant in Serbia. In response to their previous letter, Xi encouraged them to make new contributions to China-Serbia friendship.
Thirty Serbian workers at the steel plant wrote a letter to Xi explaining recent developments at the plant and thanking him for his support in the rebirth of the legendary factory.
Founded in 1913 in the town of Smederevo, the steelworks was once hailed as “the pride of Serbia.” However, the plant had been on the verge of closure since the late 1990s until Chinese investors arrived in 2016. That same year, Xi visited and met the plant the employees together.
Thanks to China’s advanced technology and management systems, the plant became profitable and is now one of Serbia’s three largest exporters.
An unbreakable friendship
Xi arrived in Belgrade on Tuesday for his second state visit to Serbia and expectations are high that the unwavering friendship between the two nations will be further enriched and strengthened.
In a signed article published in Serbian media on Tuesday, Xi said that China and Serbia remain true friends and good partners regardless of changes in the international landscape.
“Our unwavering friendship continues to grow and serves as a model for relations among states and among people,” Xi said in the article.
Xi noted in the article that the two countries should promote multi-dimensional people-to-people and cultural exchanges and diversify cooperation at the regional level.
“We should use the combined effect of mutual visa-free travel and direct flights as well as our respective cultural centers to promote cooperation in education, sports, culture and tourism,” Xi said, adding that more opportunities should be created for youth, so that the Chinese-Serbian friendship can be continued from generation to generation.
The dynamics of collaboration
Serbia is China’s first free trade partner in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2023, China became the largest source of foreign investment and Serbia’s second largest trading partner. Serbian honey, red wine, beef and lamb and other agricultural products are increasingly popular among Chinese consumers.
“Our flourishing cooperation in trade and economic relations, industrial chains and infrastructure development gives a great boost to our respective modernization processes,” Xi said in the article.
The Chinese president said the two countries should further exploit the potential of mutually beneficial cooperation, implement the medium-term action plan for Belt and Road cooperation and develop other flagship projects.
“We should expand cooperation in technological innovation, advanced manufacturing, green energy, digital economy, artificial intelligence and other emerging areas,” he said.
In a written speech upon his arrival in the Serbian capital Belgrade, Xi said he looked forward to a detailed exchange of views with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić on bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest.
“I am confident that this visit will be fruitful and open a new chapter in China-Serbia relations,” Xi said in his speech.
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