The century-old Smederevo Steelworks, once on the brink of bankruptcy, now stands as a powerful symbol of the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the Republic of Serbia. Since its revitalization in 2016 through high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, the plant has transformed into one of the world's largest iron and steel makers, reflecting the deepening ties between the two nations.
A Milestone Meeting in Beijing
This Monday, President Xi Jinping and President Aleksandar Vucic held high-level talks in Beijing, where both leaders emphasized the need to forge a path toward shared prosperity. President Xi called for the China-Serbia comprehensive strategic partnership to be elevated to new heights, reinforcing a relationship frequently described as an "ironclad friendship." In a significant gesture of diplomatic goodwill, President Xi awarded President Vucic the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China, an honor Vucic described as one of the most important moments of his life.
Economic Synergy and Infrastructure Growth
The partnership has yielded tangible economic results. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, bilateral trade reached $6.49 billion in 2025, representing a 13% year-on-year increase. This growth is bolstered by the China-Serbia Free Trade Agreement, which took effect on July 1, 2024, allowing Serbian specialty products like wine, honey, and beef to enter the Chinese market more easily.
Infrastructure has been a cornerstone of this cooperation. Under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the two countries have accelerated critical projects, including the Fruska Gora Corridor and several key bypasses in Belgrade and Gornji Milanovac. A crowning achievement was the full inauguration of the Serbian section of the Budapest-Belgrade railway in October 2025, which President Vucic hailed as a generational achievement that will be etched in history.
Building a Community with a Shared Future
Beyond steel and rails, the relationship is evolving into a strategic alliance based on shared values of independence, dignity, and peaceful development. In May 2024, Serbia became the first European country to agree with China on building a community with a shared future for the new era. This vision has expanded cooperation into cutting-edge fields, including artificial intelligence, green energy, and technology.
Following their recent talks, the two nations issued a joint statement supporting China's four global initiatives: the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative (GGI). By joining the Group of Friends of the GDI and the GGI, Serbia has demonstrated its commitment to deepening cooperation on international governance.
As they look toward the future, China and Serbia aim to strengthen coordination in international affairs, promoting true multilateralism and an inclusive economic globalization to benefit the broader global community.
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China, Serbia push comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights
cgtn.com
