PROMOTE ALL-ROUND COOPERATION BETWEEN SERBIA AND CHINA IN A MORE POSITIVE AND ENTERPRISING MANNER

ALEKSANDAR VU?I?

President of Serbian Progressive Party,President of Serbia

S erbia is a country with a population of only 7 million, but it is a large country in terms of population in the Balkans. Serbia attaches great importance to the political and economic cooperation with China, in particular the people-to-people exchanges and cooperation within the framework of Belt and Road. People-to-people communication is an important part of international communication. Serbia is ready to strengthen political, economic, social and cultural exchanges with China, strengthen people-to-people exchanges and promote the connectivity between the two peoples. At the same time, the Serbian Progressive Party highly values the exchanges with the Communist Party of China.

Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has made remarkable development achievements. Despite the pressure and challenges from the West, China's circle of friends in the world is getting bigger and bigger, and its international influence continues to rise. The key lies in the fact that, unlike western powers which blindly put pressure on other countries, China has always adhered to the principle of mutual respect and equal treatment when dealing with other countries, especially small and medium-sized countries. So long as China sticks to this principle,it will certainly gain more friends and support in the international community.

Serbia is among the first countries to sign a Belt and Road cooperation agreement with China. In the past years, Serbia and China have made remarkable progress in infrastructure, communications and other areas of connectivity. Serbia hopes to further promote connectivity between both sides, strengthen business cooperation, deepen people-topeople exchanges, and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to make investment and start businesses in Serbia and more Chinese tourists to visit Serbia. The number of Chinese tourists to Serbia has increased two to three times compared with the past few years, and Serbia hopes that number will continue to grow. The trade volume between Serbia and China has increased significantly compared with that of 10 years ago. Serbia hopes that the scale of trade between the two countries will continue to expand.At the same time, Serbia also hopes that the two peoples of Serbia and China will strengthen exchanges and enhance understanding, so that the people-to-people exchanges between the two countries will get even hotter, further consolidating the friendly public opinion and social foundation between the two countries.

Serbia is deeply moved by the respect and support from a great country like China. China respects and supports Serbia not out of economic interests but out of friendship between the two countries. As strategic partners, Serbia and China should adopt an even more positive and enterprising manner in promoting the all-round cooperation and further strengthening economic and trade cooperation as well as people-topeople exchanges. In addition, Serbia is ready to support China's principle and position on major international and regional issues.

In this coming November, the Chinese Cultural Center in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, will be inaugurated.The center will play an important role in promoting the Serbian people's understanding of Chinese culture and Asian culture. At the same time, Serbia also hopes that the Chinese people will learn more about Balkan and Serbian culture.

The past six years have witnessed continuous development of cooperation between Serbia and China as well as increasingly deepening exchanges between the Serbian Progressive Party and the Communist Party of China. Looking forward to the future, Serbia hopes to further strengthen its exchanges with China through various channels, and continue to work together in creating a new dimension of friendship and cooperation between both sides so as to bring more well-being for the two peoples.

As a country with a bright future,Serbia is firmly committed to promoting cooperation with China in various fields. Serbia is grateful to China for its long-term valuable support to Serbia. I look forward to welcoming President Xi Jinping in Serbia this year.