BEIJING, May 8, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Recently, a reply from Chinese President Xi Jinping
excited and inspired the workers from HBIS Smederevo Steel Plant in
Serbia. Responding to their previous letter, Xi encouraged them to
make new contributions to the China-Serbia friendship.
Thirty Serbian workers from the steel plant wrote a letter to
Xi, explaining recent developments at the plant and expressing
their gratitude for his support in the rebirth of the iconic
factory.
Established in 1913 in the city of Smederevo, the steel plant
was once hailed as "the pride of Serbia." Since the late 1990s,
however, the plant was on the verge of closure until Chinese
investment arrived in 2016. In the same year, Xi visited the plant
and met with its workers.
Thanks to China's advanced
technology and management systems, the plant became profitable and
has now become one of the three biggest exporters in Serbia.
An ironclad friendship
Xi arrived in Belgrade on
Tuesday to pay his second state visit to Serbia, and expectations
are running high that the ironclad friendship between the two
nations will be further enriched and strengthened.
In a signed article published on Tuesday on Serbia's media, Xi
said China and Serbia remain true
friends and good partners, regardless of changes in the
international landscape.
"Our ironclad friendship is ever-growing, setting a model for
state-to-state and people-to-people interactions," Xi said in the
article.
Xi noted in the article that the two countries should promote
multidimensional people-to-people and cultural exchanges and
diversify sub-national cooperation.
"We should make good use of the combined effect of 'mutual visa
exemption plus direct flights,' as well as our respective cultural
centers, to promote cooperation in education, sports, culture and
tourism," Xi said, adding that more opportunities for the youth
should be created so that the China-Serbia friendship can be
carried forward from generation to generation.
Momentum of cooperation
Serbia is China's first free
trade partner in Central and Eastern
Europe. In 2023, China
became Serbia's largest source of foreign investment and its
second-largest trading partner. Serbian honey, red wine, beef, lamb
and other agricultural products have grown popular among Chinese
consumers.
"Our thriving cooperation in trade and economic relations,
industrial chain and infrastructure development lends a great boost
to our respective process of modernization," Xi said in the
article.
The Chinese president said the two countries should further
unleash the potential of mutually beneficial cooperation, deliver
on the mid-term action plan for cooperation under the framework of
the Belt and Road Initiative, and build more 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 of
Belgrade, Xi said he looks forward
to having an in-depth exchange of views with Serbian President
Aleksandar Vucic on the bilateral
relationship and other issues of mutual interest.
"I am confident that this visit will be a fruitful one and will
open up a new chapter in China-Serbia relations," Xi said in the
speech.
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-05-08/A-new-chapter-China-Serbia-continue-to-deepen-cooperation--1tqKIie01dS/p.html
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SOURCE CGTN