Xi Jinping’s European Tour: Crucial Talks with Serbian President Vucic

On May 8^th Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.  The meeting was scheduled in the Belgrade palace where thousands of people gathered to greet Xi before the meeting.

This is the showcase of the friendship of both countries and a historic visit by the Chinese President Xi.

Xi arrived on May 7 for the second segment of an unusual six-day European tour. The trip initially brought him to France for discussions with President Emmanuel Macron and EU officials. Additionally, he is scheduled to visit Hungary on May 8-9.

The Chinese President’s first visit to European countries in five years is a major geopolitical event. Analysts see this as part of Beijing’s influence on the continent’s economic and political affairs.

Serbian President Vucic has promoted Chinese investment trade and diplomatic ties in his state. He has tried to balance Western sanctions imposed on Russia over access to Russia and China and the Ukraine war with his country’s bid for eventual EU membership.

Serbian President Vucic thanked the Chinese president for his visit to the little country Serbia. He said  “making history today even though it doesn’t seem so to many.”

According to Serbian TV, Chinese President Xi reacted and said, “it is truly a two-sided and honest friendship.”

From this visit, it is clear that Moscow and China are supporting diplomatically the refusal to recognize the former province Kosovo and its independence. And Belgrade has also supported China’s claims to Taiwan. Vucic said “Taiwan is China,”  on May 8, citing the UN Charter.

Xi’s visit to Europe appears to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the NATO bombing of the former Chinese embassy in Belgrade in 1999. This was a deadly incident that united China with Sergia.

Over the past decades, China has invested about $6 billion in Serbia in copper mines, steel mills infrastructure projects, highways, etc.

The two countries are now expected to sign 30 agreements aimed at technology and innovation in Serbia.

Let us tell you that in 2016, Xi visited Serbia to sign a free trade agreement with Belgrade, this is his visit to Serbia after many years.