Chinese President Xi Jinping is holding talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade today, Wednesday, as China seeks to deepen its political and economic relationships with countries in Europe that are more amenable to it. Xi describes Serbia as "an ironclad friend" in China's foreign relations, a term that carries special significance in Chinese diplomatic discourse.
China has invested billions in Serbia and neighboring Balkan countries, particularly in the mining and industrial sectors. Last year, Beijing and Belgrade signed a free trade agreement. Xi arrived in the Serbian capital on Tuesday night after a state visit to France, which included somewhat tense discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron on issues such as trade and China's ongoing close ties with Russia amid the war in Ukraine.
Xi's visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of NATO's bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade.
